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Nirvanakalika.
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Introduction.
HORRO
Khatika (Pen), books, Crystal-bead-rosary, and sandals are presented to Acharya on conferment of the diginity. Both Shakhas & Gachchha are mentioned. The reference in the Nitya-Karma-Vidhi to Ashta Murti (eightfold form, Shiva ) is important and shows that Jain worship was influnced by Tantrika Agamas where the chief deity is Shiva. There was a revival of Hindu learning and Sanskritists flocked together in large 18 numbers to the audience hall of King Vikrama. The learned Jains vied with the Hindu Pandits in the Sabha of Vikrama. The Jains also began to study Sanskrit in large numbers and commenced writing works in Sanskrit dealing with their religion. About the time the famous Umasyati, the learned author of Tattavartha Sutra also wrote his aphorisms in Sanskrit. At the same time the Prakrit language continued in full force and works began to be written in both the languages. Kundakundacharya of the Digambaran sect who is said to have flourished about 49 S. Y. about this time wrote his 8 famous Pahudas. (summaries or extracts from 14 Purvas, the lost Agamas, in Prakrit). This was the time when Pahuda Granthas were in vogue. Since the time of Bhadrabahu-Swami till about the middle of the second century, such kinds of works continued to be composed. They purport to be the preserved summaries on various subjects treated in Purvas which were fast becoming extinct by the time. It appears from the available Pahudas and the quotations of Gathas in the present work hereafter discussed, that it is not correct what the Western Scholars say that Purvas contained merely the disputations of Shri Mahavira with his contemporaries. The work goes to show that Purvas dealt with as great a variety of subjects as the existing Agamas. The Jain tradition is that Bhadrabahu-Swami was the last person who knew all the fourteen !
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