Scientific Vision of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Chaitanyapragyashreeji
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 35

Bhagavatī Sūtra: As an Encyclopedic Work
various types of sufferings. It describes the example of Gangadatta who was inspired by the 20th tirthankara Munisuvrata and who attained rebirth in the mahasukrakalpa, one of the heavens. On the other hand 50, the warriors who fight battles and indulge in killing human beings with deep feeling of enmity, generally take rebirth in hell. This is illustrated by the description of the Mahaśīlākantaka sangrāma and the Rathamusala sangrāma (battle) that took place between the king Konika and the Vajji republic headed by the King Cetaka.51
[2] The Bh.S and the Angabāhya Literature
In the following pages, the Bh.S has been compared with some selected works of the Anga-bāhya literature known as Avasaka, Upānga, Māla, Cheda and Prakirnaka.
(A) The Bh.S and the Avasyaka Sūtra
Avasyaka Sütra is a treatise on the essential duty of the ascetics to perform expiation for any fault done by him during the day or night period. In the Bh.s52 we find references to the undertaking of vows for the ascetics as well as the laity. In the light of this description, one can understand the expiations referred to in the Avasyaka Sūtra.
Another very important dialogue of the Bh.S$3 on the topic of Kärksamnohaniya (the faith-debunking with a view to join the heretical faith) has a very interesting counterpart in the Avasyaka Sūtra54 which describes the main faith as a unchallengeable truth, the unique, the unparalleled, the perfect, leading to salvation, pure par excellence. The Bh.S emphasizes on remaining causes about the rise of the Känksamohaniya karma and the Jain faith as a truth beyond doubt that can be properly understood in the context of the Avasyuku Sūtra. There are many more passages in these two canonical texts, which are to be interpreted with mutual understanding.
(B) The Bh.S and the Upanga Literature
The Bh.S and the Aupapātika
The twelve Upāngas, which are definitely later works than the angas, deal with many subjects that are common with the Bh.S. In the first Upānga 'Aupapātika Sūtra' the detailed description of the caitya and the gardens is given and reference to this description is found at many places in the Bh.s
so. It seems that these descriptive passages were collected in the first Upanga Sūtra in order to make the text of the Bh.S free from unnecessary elaboration.
The chapter on Gautama in the first Upānga Aupapātika Sūtra seems to be a short copy of the dialogues held between Gautama and Mahāvīra in the