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the development of various Vedic philosophical systems is dependent on Shramnic systems. Giving these observations a serious consideration, Jain Acharya Mahapragya has said that we could not consider these views of the scholars entirely baseless; there was indeed some basis to it. The treatises on Nyaya or logic composed by scholars in the medieval age were, in fact, a collection of Buddhist, Nyayanic and other philosophies. After reading these treatises, it would be quite natural for anyone to come to the above stated opinion about Jain philosophy. But those treatises are not a representative account of Jain philosophy. Expounding on this point, Mahapragya has stated that: (i) The first misconception was that the said treatises on logic were representing
the Jain religion, (ii) The second false impression was nourished by the above assumption, that the
Jain philosophy was merely a collection of the ideas of other philosophies.
The second illusion can be wiped off if the first one is proved false. The fundamental and original treatises of Jain philosophy are Agamas. These scriptures truly represent Jain philosophy. A serious scholar of these scriptures will ascertain that Jain philosophy is not merely a collection of others' ideas.
Shadjeev Nikaya, Lok-Alokvad, Panchastikaya, Parmanuvad, Tamaskaya and Krishnaraji is the novel ideas which are testimony to an entirely independent identity of the Jain philosophy. While establishing the originality of Jain philosophy, Acharya Siddhsen has said:
"My Lord, I do not need to provide much evidence to prove Your Omniscience. Shadjeev Nikayavad, expounded by You,
Is the strongest evidence of Your Omniscience?" Shadjeev Nikayvad states that life exists in six types of bodies. Out of six bodies, five bodies are immobile in nature. The immobile bodies in which the life is present are: lump of stones, water, fire, air and the bodies of vegetation. They have only one sense i.e. a touch sense. On the other hand mobile bodies may have two senses, or three, or four or five senses. The declaration of Lord Mahavira that life is present in the immobile bodies is remarkable a contribution because such knowledge was out of reach for an ordinary person at that time. Acharya Sidhsen has therefore, praised Mahavira for his omniscience.
Jain Agams
Some foreign scholars, particularly Germans, believed that first Shrutskandha of Acharang scripture is the oldest composition from the point of view of contents, language and style. Mahapragya has considered the Jain literature in its totality without dividing it in the periods of composition. According to him, Agams were composed in written form by various groups of Acharyas all of whom had the same base - the
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