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The Early Epigraphic Records of Mathurā
Prakirņaka Āgamas: There are ten scriptures that come under Prakirņaka 77 Āgamas. They are not recognised by Terāpanthi and Sthānakavasi sects. Out of ten Prakirņakas nine are available in Nandisūtra. The Digambara and Yāpaniya sects also do not recognise them but many Gāthās from Āturpratyākhyana and Mahā-pratyakhyāna are available in Sanksipta and Brihat Pratyākhyāna scriptures. The scripture Bhagavati-āradhanā also contains many Gāthās from Marana-vibhakti, Arādhanā-patākā etc. Culikā Sūtras: There are two scriptures known as Culikā-sūtras i) Nandisūtra and ii) Anuyogdvāra-sūtra. They are recognised by all sects of Svetāmbara tradition. Above 45 Āgamas are recognised by Śvetāmbara, who worshipped images. The other two sects - Sthānakavasi and Terāpanth believe in 32 Āgamas excluding Jitakappa, Mahā-niśitha, piņda -niryukti and ten Prakirņakas. The classification of Digambara and Yāpaniya Āgamas is based on Umāswāti's Tattvārtha-sūtra having similar system as in Nandisūtra.
6.14 The Antiquity of Āgamic Literature and Its Composition:
The first Vācanā took place at Pātaliputra in third century B.C. in the period of Sthulabhadra. This shows that at that time, Ardhamāgadhi Āgamas were already existing in oral form. This literature comprises much information of history from 5th B.C. to 3rd A.D. Dr. Harman Jacobi ascertained that oldest parts of Anga Āgamas are composed between 4th B.C. to 3rd A.D. He includes Agamas like Daśāśruta-skandha, Brihat-kalp and Vyavahāra too are codified by Bhadrabāhuswāmi. The last Vācanā was held at Valabhipur in Vira Nirvan samy. 980, under the leadership of Ācārya Devardhigaņi and was attendended and supported by 500 Ācāryas and their disciples. At that time all Āgamas were written either on copper plates or Bhurjpatras which were already existing in memory of seers, therefore it would not be justified to believe that Ardhmagadhi Agamas were set up in the time of Devardhigaņi.
77 10 Prakirņakas :
1) Catuḥsarana 2) Āturpratyakhyaña 3) Bhaktaparijna 4) Santaraka 5) Tāndul vaicarika 6) Candravedhyaka 7) Devendrastava 8) Ganividya 9) Mahapacchakhana 10) Virastava.
