Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Ramjee Singh
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi

Page 27

18 Jaina Perspective in Philosophy and Religion ted his two most able disciples, named Puşpadanta and Bhutabali into the Āgamas, who later on compiled the Sermons in the form of a monumental epics of religion called, Şaç-khandagama in Prakpt. A contemporary of Acarya Gunabhadra compiled Kaşaya-Pahuda upon which Yati Brşabha wrote a commentary in Prakst after he learnt it from Arya Manşku and Na. gahasti. There are quite a few commentaries on these two monumental treasures-Şackhandagama and Kaşaya-pahuda. The last of the commentaries on Şarkhandagama called Dhavala is by Virasena, which comprises 72 thousand verses. The commentary on Kaşaya-pahuda, called Jayadhavala is equally monumental having 20 thousand verses written by Vīrasena and 40 thousand added by his disciple Jinasena. The final portion of the Şaçkhaodagama is called Mahabandha which has 41 thousand verses. This has been composed by Bhūtabali himself. Fortunately, all those three monumental Agamas are treasured at Mudabidri's temple library. Acərya Nemichand Siddhanta Šāstri Chakravarti of the 10th century was supposed to be an authority on these three Agamas. He had composed Gommagasăra and Labdhisara to give the essences of these Agamas. Todaramala has written commentaries upon Gommatasāra and Labdhisāra in Bhaşā. Ācārya Kunda-kunda's Samayasära, Pravacanasāra, Niyamasāra and Pañcāstikaya-sära are in acknowledged Prakṣt works which are regarded as good as the Āgamas by the Jainas. Jainācārya Umā swāti wrote Tattvärtha-Sūtra, which is regarded as the Veritable Bible of the Jainas by both the sects. The legend of the propagation of Jaina religion rests with the Tîrthankars and their disciples called eleven Gapadharas, who are said to have converted a community of 4411 Áramapas? from whom the entire Jaina community has grown. 2. The Contribution of the Agamas
The Validity of Scriptural Knowledge-Except the Carvakas, all systems of Indian Philosophy admit the validity of scriptural knowledge. In the Vedic tradition, the Vedas which are 1. Kalpa-Sūtra, p. 285.