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200 : Śramana, Vol 59, No. 2/April-June 2008
(B) Samavāyānga
Samavāyānga is the next Agama after Sthānāṁga where an elaborate description of the subject matter of Praśnavyākaraṇa is found. It has been specifically mentioned in Samavāyānga with reference to the subject matter of Praśnavyākaraṇa that it explains 108 praśnas (asked questions), 108 apraśnas (unasked questions) and miracles of 108 praśnāpraśnas (partly asked and partly unasked questions) along with beautiful discourses of Suparnas with Nāgakumāras. It also deals with various occult sciences. This Praśnavyākarana is stated by Pratyekabuddhas possessing the knowledge of Jaina doctrines and the doctrines of other faiths and speaking the language equipped with manifold meanings. It is clearly described by the Acaryas who were the bearers of miraculous virtues, tranquility of mind and perennial sources of knowledge for the welfare of the world. It contains a description of the spell of occult sciences through the medium of mirror, arm, sword, jewel, cloth and sun. There are certain references found in it regarding Mahāpraśnavidyā, Manapraśnavidya, Devaprayoga, etc. It mentions the sayings of Jina endowed with the qualities of increasing virtues of all beings and minimising their vices, astonishing the minds of men, keeping men stationed in the preachings of omniscient Tirthankaras permeated with miracles, knowing the peculiarity of the occasion and serene tranquility providing enlightenment to the unenlightened and misled, explaining matter difficult to study and comprehend ordained and specific meanings. The readings of Praśnavyäkaraṇa are limited and it has innumerable anuyogadvāras, pratipattis, vedās, niryuktīs and sangrahaṇīs. Praśnavyākaraṇa is the tenth Anga in the order of Angas and contains one Śrutaskandha, forty-five uddesana-kāla and fortyfive sammudeśaka-kālas. It has been aptly described to contain lacks of verses in terms of counting verses. According to this Anga, the soul is the only knower. With the presentation of conduct and dispositions, the concept of the object is defined in this text ".
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