Jaina Ontology

Author(s): K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 14

THE NEED FOR A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND STAGES IN THE EVOLUTION OF JAINA PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATION
Three Attitudes towards the Agamic Texts :
Forty five texts collection called Agamas are treated as basic scriptures by a section of the Jaina community-to be precise by the icon-worshipping Svetambaras. On the other hand, the aniconist Svetambaras repudiate the authority of thirteen of these texts while the Digambaras that of the whole lot. These attitudes of these three very important sub-groups of the Jainas towards these very important texts are bound to be taken into consideration by any fair-minded student of Jainism-particularly in case the student also happens to be historically minded. Of course, whether these texts are at all important is itself a matter of dispute but the fact that they are so regarded by a considerable section of the Jainas creates a prima facie case in their favour. Let us therefore acquaint ourselves in some details with the text-mass in question and then judge how far the different sub-groups of the Jainas are justified in adopting towards it the attitude they do.
Sub-grouping of the Agamic Texts and the Possible line of their composition : The forty-five Agamic texts are sub-divided into six groups as follows:
I
II
III
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY
(the texts are themselves in Prakrit but it is convenient to refer to them by their Sanskrit names and so there is no harm in resorting to Sanskrit rather than Prakrit while giving the general titles of the six groups in question).
I
II
III
J.O...1
11 Angas
12 Upangas
10 Prakirṇakas
The aniconist Svetambaras repudiate the authority of all the ten Prakirnakas, two Chedasutras and one Mulasūtra; besides, they give the title Mulasūtra to two of the remaining Mulasutras and to the two Culikasutras while making one remaining Mulasütra constitute a separate group. Thus according to them the thirty two Agamic texts are sub-divided into five groups as follows:
IV 6 Chedasūtras
V
4 Mulasutras
VI 2 Culikāsūtras;
11 Angas
12 Upangas
4 Chedasutras
IV
V
4 Mulasutras
1 Avasyakasūtra