Jainism and Mahavira

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Digambar Jain Sahitya Sanskriti Sanskaran Samiti

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Sutragamas. The Agamas compiled by Pratyekabuddhas or Sthaviras are also valid. Like the Bauddha Pitakas, they are called Ganipitakas. Agamas are a composed form of Angas and Purvas. Puravas are no longer in existence. They might have established their own tradition which would have been absorbed in the Angas. The knower of fourteen Purvas is called Srutakevali. The Scripture that we have at present is derived from Tirthankara Mahavira. The Purvas are included into Drastivada which is briefly divided into five parts, viz. Parikarma, Sutra, Purvagata, Anuyoga and Culika. The Kasayapahuda and Satkhandagama texts are perhaps the earliest source of knowledge of the Drastivada. In course of time it was lost with obliteration of Kevalajnana gradually as can be understood by the posthumous spiritual titles of Caudasa, Dasa and Nava Puvvis.
The traditional way through hearsay has been the only means to preserve and protect the Scriptures for sometimes. In due course the addition and omission ought to take place in the texts which were used to examine by holding the Councils called Vacanas, like Buddhist Sangitis from time to time at Pataliputra, Mathura and Valabhi. The Third or Fourth Vacana was held at Valabhi 980 years after the Nirvana of Mahavira under the presidentship of Devardhigani Ksamasramana who compiled and written down the available Sciptures. It may be mentioned here that no referenc to these Councils is made in Digambara traditional literature. In its view the original form of Agamas went into oblivion and alienation upto 683 years after Mahavira's Nirvana. The Svetambara tradition does not refute the view but states that even if the original form of the Agamas is changed, its whole form cannot be completely rejected and ignored. Some cultural aspects and linguistic peculiarities prove its originality to a certain extent.
The Jaina Scriptures are divided into several ways. viz. Angapravista and Angabahya, in) Kalika and Utkalika ,iii) Anga, Upanga, Chedasutra, Mulasutra, Prakirnaka and Culika, iv) Krta and Niryuhana, v) Carananuyoga, Dharmakathanuyoga, Ganitanuyoga, and Dravyanuyoga, and vi) Prathamanuyoga, Karananuyoga, Charananuyoga, and Dravyanuyoga. The language of Purvas was Sanskrit and the present Agamas are found in Prakrit. It was spoken in a part of Magadha and was mingled with other dialects. Therefore it is called Ardhamagadhi in which the Svetambara Agmas are written. The Digambara Agamic literature is found in Sauraseni Prakrit. The Agamas can also be, therefore,
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