Sambodhi 1973 Vol 02

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 28

22
K. K. Dixit
for them to claim that their most fundamental scriptural texts somehow incorporated the words of Mahavira, and to say-as was actually done by them that the twelve Angas were composed by the direct chief-disciples of Mahavira on the basis of what they had learnt from the Master was as good as saying that these texts incorporated the words of Mahavira. But a perusal of the eleven Anga-texts of the present-day Svetambara canon (the twelfth-viz. Drsttodda-having been declared by the Svetambaras themselves to have been lost long ago) convinces one that almost each of them is made up of portions composed by different persons at different periods of time What has most probably happened is that these different portions were composed by different persons at different periods in the early postMahavira era, then were compiled in the form of different Anga-texts, and finally were attributed in retrospect to Mahavira himself; (many additions were made to these texts even much later). Thus it is difficult to assent to the orthodox Svetämbara contention that the eleven Anga-texts of the present-day Svetambara canon are the meagre remnants of the twelve Anga-texts that were composed by Mahavira's direct chief-disciples; and the orthodox Digambara contention that there were once in existence twelve Anga-texts composed by Mahavira's direct chief-disciples with which, however, the eleven Anga-texts of the present-day Svetambara canon have nothing whatsoever to do is still more unworthly of credence. So what has to be done is to subject to chronological startification the entire body of Svetambara canon-without laying undue emphasis on the distinction allegedly obtaining between its Angic and extra-Angic sectors. For as a matter of fact, most and the most important of the extra-Angic scriptural texts too are all made up of portions that were composed by different persons at different periods in the early post-Mahavira era (and in them too additions had been made even much later),
Lack of system is a most conspicuous feature of most of the Jaina canonical texts and that lends good support to the surmise that they are of the form of compilation made out of a pre-existing material. The first such compllations seem to have been the eleven (or twelve) Angas, for otherwise it is difficult to make out as to why the later authors should make so much of them. And it would seem logical that these particular compilations were made at a period sufficiently posterior to the time of Mahavira and sufficiently prior to the time by which a mythology-laden account of them had been given currency. As a matter of fact, much of the Jiana mythology-pertaining to cosmographic as well matters-is a sufficiently late growth, and the tradition regarding the comas historical position of the Anga-texts is an integral part of the historical sector of this mythology. However, even certain extra-Angic texts contain material that is pretty old-perhaps, older than the late material of the Angic texts