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The Early Epigraphic Records of Mathura
6.12 Agama Vacanā:
The friars passed on Jaina's Ardhamaghadhi literature through oral recitation. As per available references five Agama Vācanās (councils) were held. These were on the Nirvana of Mahāvīra Samvat 160 to 980 or 993 at Pātaliputra, Kumārihill, Mathurā and twice at Vallabhipur respectively. Being a vast country, here many local languages coexisted since ancient time. The chief languages used by the people of Magadha were Prakrit, Pali and Sanskrit. In due course Prakrit language under went changes and the Prakrit spoken in half territory of Magadha was known as Ardhamāgadhi, while the same used by people of Sursena-desa which includes Sauripura, Mathurā and Āgrā was recognised as Saurseni Prakrit. Besides Magadhi language, Jaina canons were influenced by other dialects also, hence called Ardhamāgadhi. The Prakrit grammar used in inscriptions is mixed with dialect used by the donors who had installed the images and other sculptures.
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It is believed that basic Agama literature Anga was elucidated by Tīrthankaras and arranged in sutras by Gaṇadharas, since then these Angas became the wealth of Acāryas so also called Ganipitakas73. The other name for the same is 'Dvādasangi' as they are twelve*. (Acaranga, Sūtrakritānga, etc.) Anga-bahya (other than basic) Agamas were codified by Purvācaryas over a period of time.
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6.13 The Classification of Agamas:
The Ardhamagadhi Agamas are classified into Anga74, Upanga, Mulasūtra, Chedasūtra and Prakirņaka in later period (12th century approx.). Angasūtras:
The Angas are 12/twelve so the group calls Dvadasangi as per Svetambara sect. Digambaras recognised all Angas but at the same time they believe that they were manipulated and not original. They accept Surya-prajñapti, Jambudvipa-prajñapti, Candra-prajñapti under the Drastivada Anga.
73 Acārya Mahaprajña- Jain Parampara ka Itihas- pp-65.
74 12 Angas (1) Ayāra/Acārānga (2) Suyagad/ Sūtrakrutānga (3) Thāṇa/Sthānanga (4) Samavāyanga (5) Viyaahapannati / Vyakya prajñapti / Bhagavati (6) Nāyādhammakahão/ Jñātādharmakathāh (7) Uvāsagadasão/Upāsakadaśāh (8) Antgadadasão / Antakritadaśāh.
(9) Anuttarovavāidasāão/Anuttaraupapātikadaśāh (10) Paṇha-vāgaraṇāi / Praśna-vyākarāṇi (11) vivagasuyam / Vipākasrutam (12) Drastivādah / Ditthivaya.
