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A SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
The present form of Āgamas is to be, therefore, traced to the work done by Devardhigaņī. He collected the Anga and the Angabāhya literature and edited them. He is, therefore, considered as the editor of the Agama literature in the present form. Philosophical Discussions in the Agamas +! 4
There is a good deal of philosophical discussion in the Agamas : (i) Sūtrakrtānga. (ii) Prajñāpanā, (iii) Bhagavati, (iv) Nandī, (v) Sthānānga, (vi) Samavāyānga and (vii) Anuyogadvāra.
Sūtrakrtānga refutes the prevailing philosophical schools of thought. In this work, Naturalistic Monism(Bhūtādvaitavāda) has been refuted, and the doctrine of separate and independent soul is established. The God and Soul Monism (Brahmādvaitvāda) is also refuted. In its place, the doctrine of the plurality of souls is established. The doctrine of karma and its effects have been proved. The theistic concept of God has been rejected. It is established that the world (saṁsāra) is beginningless (anādi) and endless (ananta). Several other theories of philosophy prevailing at that time, like Akriyāvāda, Vinayavāda, Ajñānavāda were refuted and the validity of Kriyāvāda (activism) was propounded.
In the Prajñāpanā we get a detailed discussion about the nature of the soul (jiva) from various points of view.
In the Rājapraśanīya, after an elaborate refutation of the atheistic thought, there is an exposition of the Atman and the other world with copious illustrations and expositions of different concepts.
In the Bhagavatî we get a beautiful study of the topics like, Naya, Pramāņa, Saptabhangi, and Anekāntavāda.
Nandīsūtra discusses the nature and types of knowledge.
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Śri Devardhigaại Kşamāśramaņena śrivīrâd aśītyadhikanavasata (980) varṣe jātena dvādaśavarsīya durbhikṣavašād bahutarasādhuvyāpattau bahuśrutavicchittau ca jātāyā.....bhavyalokopakārāya śrutavyaktaye ca śrīsanghāgrahāt mộtāvaśişğatadakālīna sarvasādhun Vallabhyāmākārya tanmukhād vicchinnavašistān nyün dhikān trutitäătrutitān agamalapakan anukramena svamatya sarkalayya pustakārūdhah krtāh. Tato mülato Ganadharabhāsitānāmapi tatsaņkalānāntaram sarvesāmapi Agamānām karta Śrī Devardhigani Kșamāśramaņa eva jataḥ -Sāmācāri sataka.
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