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Concept of Omniscience in Jainism
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is traced back to the pre-historical era, of which there is no record except some stray references in Vedas. The schism of Jaina religion in Svetāmbara and Digambara sect and there parallel separate line of literature where rarely one quote to other, also has been the hindrance in determining the chronology of the very concept. Similarly, lack of historical researches, controversy of the dates of the authors, availability of less authoritative works on Jaina History, absence of proper royal patronage are the main reasons which do not favour in providing sufficient material to determine the chronology of the concept of omniscience.
In the pre-canonical period, which has been presented mostly through legendary history, the omniscience of Mahāvīra was accepted as indisputable. Our earliest and most authentic source for the account of Mahāvīra's attainment of omniscience is the Kalpasūtra, the traditional canonical work on the lives of Jina. There we learn that “soon after the death of his parents, Mahāvīra, aged thirty, renounced the life of a householder and became a mendicant (muni) in the order of his predecessor Jina Pārsva. He led the life of an ascetic for a period of twelve years, engaged in severe austerities and deep meditation. Then, during the thirteenth year, in the second month of summer, in the fourth fortnight, on the day called Suvrata, outside of the town called Irmbhikagrāma on the bank of the river Rjupálikā) Rjuvālikā, not for from an old temple, in the field of the householder Sãmāga, under a Sāla tree, (the venerable one), in a squatting position with joined heels, exposing himself to the heat of the sun, after fasting two and a half days without drinking water, being engaged in deep meditation, reached the highest knowledge and intuition, called Kevala which is infinite, supreme, unobstructed, unimpeded, complete and full.!! This is also evident by the latter works of Purāņas viz. Padma of Ravisena, Harivaṁsa and Adipurāņa of Jinasena and Uttara Purāņa of Guņabhadra.
In Jaina cannons- Ācārārga, Sthânānga, Uttarādhyayana, Kaşāyapāhuda, Prajñāpanā, Rājapraşniya, Bhagavati, Mahābandha (Mahādhavalā), Āvaśyaka-niryukti and Anuyogadvāra discuss about
