Jains Today in World

Author(s): Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 87

54 JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
1. The sacred books of the Svetambara
We have seen that the Svetambara have made the recension of their religious tenets and shaped their "Canon" during different councils. Jain tradition recalls that, at the beginning, Tirthankara's teachings were orally transmitted. The first scriptural works were the "Pūrva" (first texts) and the "Anga" (members). The "Purva" were about fourteen. They dated back to Pārsva period (IXth -VIIIth century BC) and perhaps earlier. The twelve "Anga", containing part of Mahavira's teachings are written by his main-disciples.
All the "Purva" are considered by a majority of Jains, as lost today. Nevertheless, some think they were included in the twelfth "Anga", called "Drstivada", which is also lost.
Fearing that all the teachings of Mahāvīra be missing, the Śvetambara religious leaders decided to assemble, as we have seen, different councils to preserve their contents and authenticity. Mahāvīra delivered his teachings in Ardhamāgadhī (Prakrit language). They were first orally transmitted by his direct disciple Sudharma to his disciple Jambu and after him to a long line of religious Masters (the Sthavira) who are listed at the end of the "Kalpasūtra". The Svetambara "Canon", as we know it, was finally adopted under the leadership of Devardhigani at the Council of Valabhi (Gujarat) in 453 AD. This "Canon" is composed of 45 sacred books of which the Sthanakavāsī and Terapanthi regard only 32 as authentic. These texts, called "Agama" (tradition), written in "Ardhamāgadhi", ancient Indian dialect of Magadha and its adjacent province, are considered to be the teachings of Mahavira after he became omniscient. They include the "Anga", "Upānga", "Chedasūtra", "Mūlasūtra", "Cūlikāsütra" and "Prakīrṇaka".
The "Anga" (members) comprise eleven books:
1) The Acaranga-sūtra, in two sections, teaches non-violence (ahimsa), speaks of monastic conduct (acāra), recalls Mahavira's life and includes the formulae of the great vows of Jain ascetics. As we
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