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Jaina Literature (From Earliest Time to c. 10th A. D.)
my opinion, it is very difficult to assign any particular were incorporated in Sthānānga. Same is the case date or authorship to these extant works because of with Anuttaropapātikadaśānga. Its early edition concontaining different levels of the development of tained life-stories of only ten persons who attained Jaina thought, occurred through different ages. Sarvārthasiddhi Vimāna and were supposed to attain After Ācārānga and Sūtrakrtānga, next two
liberation in their next births. Of Jaina canon PraśnaAngas in successive order are Sthānārga and Sama
vyākaraṇadaśā, unfortunately, the earlier contents are vāyānga. They may be considered as encyclopaedia
totally extinct. It seems that the present subject-matter of early Jaina thoughts and beliefs, mainly based on
of this work was incorporated in aroundc. 7th A.D. Its
on the numbers more or less similar to Anguttaranikāya
extant edition deals with five āsravas, viz., violence, of Buddhist tradition. Both these works provide more
untruthfulness, theft, unchastity and possessiveness information about the Jaina order and development of
alongwith five samvaras, viz., truthfulness, nonJaina thoughts of the later period, i.e., c. 3rd 4th A.D.
stealing, chastity and non-possession. Last available The next in the list is Bhagavati (Vyākhyāprajñapti)
work of Anga canon is Vipākadaśā, dealing with mainly dealing with different aspects of Jaina philo
fruits of merit and demerits. sophy. According to a group of scholars, this Secondary Canons (Upānga ) voluminous work, was composed at different phases The first work of the secondary canons is and not at one time. Evidently, it has references to the Aupapātika, dealing with the episode of Sūryabhalater works like Prajñāpanā, Anuyogadvāra, etc. be- deva. It also depicts a beautiful picture of ancient art longing to c. 1st-4th A. D. and side by side, depicts and architecture. On the basis of this depiction, various earlier original concepts, witnessing change scholars date this work not earlier thanc. 1st-2nd A.D. in the process of development of Jaina thoughts. The The next work of this category is Rājapraśniya which, next work of early period is Jñātādharmakatha. so far its subject matter is concerned, is more similar Second part of this work is considerably later than the to the Buddhist Pāli canon - Paseniyasutta. The third first. The first contains mainly stories preached by and the fourth, Jivābhigama and Prajñāpanā, respecLord Mahāvira to his disciples. Its 19 chapters, refer- tively, deal with the Jaina metaphysics in general and red to in Avaśyaka-sūtra, are undoubtedly, com- the concepts of jiva and ajiva in particular. The posed in the early period. The next among Anga authorship of Prajñāpanā is attributed to Arya Syāma canons is Upāsakadaśānga, considered as the first (c. Ist A.D.). Out of these twelve secondary canowork related to the code of conduct of lay devotees nical works only Prajñāpanā's authorship is known. (Śrāvakas ). It comprises life-sketches of ten promi- About the authorship of other works, we are still in nent lay followers of Lord Mahāvira. Not having any dark. The fifth one is Jambūdvipaprajñapti, mainly trace of any later work, it belongs to the early period. dealing with Jaina Geography in addition to the lifeAntakyddaśānga deals with the life-stories and ascetic history of Rşabhadeva. The subject matter of next life of the persons, attaining their salvation in the last two works, Sūryaprajñapti and Candraprajñapti are span of their life. According to Sthānānga, it has only related with Jaina cosmology in general and Jaina ten chapters dealing with life-stories of 10 persons. astronomy in particular. Scholars date thesec. 2nd-1st But present volume contains life-stories of 93 persons. B.C. Other five works of this bunch are very short and It clearly shows that not at the time of Valabhi Vācană rather of less important. alone but even after that some additional matters
Besides Anga & Upānga canonical literature,
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