________________
History of Nirgrantha tradition 65
disappearing. After that, under the leadership of Arya Skandila in Mathura and under Arya Nāgārjuna in Ballabhi, parallel assemblies were held in which Angas and Upangas were compiled. Then, 980 years after Mahāvīra's nirvāņa i.e. in 5th century AD, the last vācanā took place in Ballabhi under the leadership of Devardhi Gani Kṣamāśramaṇa. Modern Agamas are the products of this vacanā. However, Devardhi is only a compiler of these Agamas not the original writer. He only systematically organized these scriptures; the material was already there before. In the Ardhamāgadhi Āgamas Ācārāṁga, the first chapter of Sūtrakṛtānga, Rṣibhāṣita, Uttaradhyayana and Daśavaikälika etc. are ancient and are of preChristian era. There are others such as Samavāyānga, Praśnavyākaraṇa etc, which are of much later period, i.e. around 5th century AD. Sthānāṁga, Antakṛtadasā, Jñātādharmakathā and some parts of Bhagavati are of much earlier period i.e. of pre-Christian era and some others of much later date. In the Upangas scriptures such as Suryaprajñapti, Rājapraśnīya, Prajñāpanā, are of earlier period. Chedasūtras are undoubtedly older in comparison to Upangas. Similarly, in the Prakirṇaka literature there are many texts, which are even older than some Angas and Upangas. But still, the entire Ardhamāgadhī Agamic literature got its final shape around the first half of 6th century
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
