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more information about the Jaina order and development of Jaina thoughts of the later period, i.e. c. 3rd-4th A.D. The next in the list is Bhagavati (Vyākyā prajñapti) mainly dealing with different aspects of Jaina philosophy. According to a group of scholars, this voluminous work was composed at different phases and not at one time. Evidently, it has references to the later works like Prajñāpanā, Anuyogadvāra, etc. belonging to c. 1st-4th A. D. and side by side, depicts various earlier original concepts, witnessing change in the process of development of Jaina thoughts.
The next work of early period is Jnātādharmakathā. Second part of this work is considerably later than the first. The first contains mainly stories preached by Bhagwan Mahāvīra to his disciples. Its 19 chapters, referred to in Avasyaka-sūtra, are undoubtedly, composed in the early period. The next among Anga canons is Upāsakadaśāngasūtra, considered as the first work related to the code of conduct of lay devotees (Śrāvakas). It comprises life-sketches of ten prominent lay followers of Bhagvan Mahāvīra. Not having any trace of any later work, it belongs to the early period.
Antakritadaśānga deals with the life stories and ascetic life of the persons, attaining their salvation in the last span of their life. According to Sthānānga, it has only ten chapters dealing with life-stories of 10 persons. But present volume contains life-stories of 90 persons. It clearly shows that not at the time of Vallabhi Vācanā alone but even after that some additional matters were incorporated in Sthānānga-sūtra. Same is the case with Anuttaropapatika-Dasanga. Its early edition contained life-stories of only ten persons who attained Sarvarthasiddhi Vimana and were supposed to attain liberation in their next births.
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