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Faina Ethics i.e. 300 A.D. to 313 A.D.)," there was again a famine for 12 years, after which the monks again met at a council in Mathurā under the headship of Skandila Sūri and recollected Agamas into what is known as Kālikasūtra. Some hold that it was not Sūtra literature but Anuyogas which were in a danger of being lost and were therefore taught by Skandila to others.2 Council af Valabhi (4th. Cent. A.D.):
Almost at the same time as that of Skandila Süri, Nāgārjuna Sūri held another council at Valabhi. The recensions of canons codified by this council, many times differed from those of the Mathurā recension.3 Council of Valabhi (6th Cent. A.D.):
The fourth and the last council was held under the presidentship of Devarddhi Gani K samāśramana in Vira Samvat 980 (553 A.D.) according to the followers of Skandila, in Vira Samvat 993 (466 A.D.) according to the followers of Nāgārjuna. It was at this council that the Agamas assumed their present form.
Thus the story of the redaction of Jaina Canons which represent the direct teachings of Mahāvira, is very interesting. To facilitate the comparison of the traditions of Svetāmbaras and Digambaras, we give below a chart of the ācāryas, according to both of them, in their chronological order :
Digambara Traditions
Svetāmbara Traditione Lord Mahāvīra (527 B.C.)? Lord Mahāvīra (527 B.C.)? 1. Kapadia, H.R., A History of the Canonical Literature of Jainas, p. 61,
footnote 4. 2. Nandic urni, p. 8. 3. Muni Kalyāņa Vijaya, Viranitvāņa Samvat aura Jaina kalagananā, pp.
110-111. 4. Kapadia, H.R., A History of the Canonical Literature of the Fainas, p. 63. 5. Cf (i) Trilokaprajñapti, Sholapur, 1943, part I, 4.1476-1491.
(ii) Virasena on Satkhandāgama, 1.1.1. (pp. 65-66). (iii) Virasena on Kaşāyapāhuda, 141. (pp. 84-87). (iv) Tattvānušāsanādisaṁgraha, Srutāvatāra (Indranandi), Bombay,
Vik. Sam. 1975, verses 72-83 (p. 80).
(v) Ibid., Śrutaskandha, pp. 158-159. 6. Cf. (i) Nandis ütra. Sthavirávali, Gāthās, 25-50.
(Contd. on the next page)
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