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Annexe 7
Some great Jain ancient authors
As already said, Jains are great authors. Since many centuries they have written in prose or in verses an impressive number of works in numerous languages (Prakrit, Sanskrit, regional Indian languages) on a quantity of matters. We know that their sacred scriptures or Agama have been ordered by the Svetāmbara in various Assemblies at Pāțalīputra, Mathurā and Valabhí from 320 BC to 520 AD. As concern the Digambara they have decided to have their own sacred canon constituted of various religious treaties written by some of their own great Ācārya.
Among the Jain sacred scriptures, the Svetāmbara venerates especially the Kalpasūtra attributed to Bhadrabāhu and the Uttarādhyayana-sūtra they say to be the recension of Mahāvīra's last sermons. Both Jain sections acknowledge as valuable the Tattvārtha-sūtra by Umāsvāti or svāmi and the Samana Suttam compiled by Shri Jinendra Varņi
A part these sacred scriptures, there are an innumerable number of other works written by many ancient Jain authors in majority by great Ācārya or by some other authors including numerous commentaries of the canons or books on religious subjects or different ones. The originals of these ancient books are carefully preserved in the Jain libraries (bhandāra) set at Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Patan, Khambhat, Ahmedabad, etc. Manuscripts dating of many years ago are also available in these libraries some of them having never been translated till today. Scholars, research workers and students can make use of these books for acquiring knowledge and for teaching. We give below the names of some of these great Jain ancient writers and the tittles of one or more of their main works. They are cited in alphabetical order to be simple and without any detail on their dates and contents. Such details would need a whole book. Some of their works have already
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