Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 27

2
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. I
meeting with his former mother, Devananda, the Brahmani at the Bahusalaka Caitya in Brahmanakundagrāma1.
It is first necessary to make a brief survey of the contents of the other works of the Ardha-Magadhi canon in order to determine the position of the BhS among them.
This canonical text traces back the origin of the Agamas at the time of the first Tirthankara, Lord Ṛşabhadeva, by recording that there were twenty-four Tirthankaras beginning from Lord Rṣabhadeva upto Lord Varddhamana (i.e. Lord Mahāvīra). Of these twenty-four Tirthankaras twenty-three were the Jinantaras (i.e after the first one). During the time of the first and last eight Jināntaras there was the non-destruction (i.e. existence) of Kalika-Sruta, while at the time of the middle (or intermediate) seven Jinantaras there took place the destruction of Kalika-Sśruta (Kalikaśrutasya ekādaśāngi. rupasya vyavacchedaḥ) and at the period of all Jinantaras there was the destruction of Drstivada "Savvatthavi........ Vocchinne Diṭṭhivae".5
Lord Mahāvīra has said: varsa the Purvagata Sruta will of my one thousand years, i.e. my
"In Jambudvipa in Bharatafollow in the Avasarapiņi Kāla upto one thousand years from time, whereas the Purvagata Sruta of the remaining Tirthankaras in the Avasarpiņi Kāla followed upto numerable times and that of some of them continued up to innumerable times".
It is further stated that Arhats are invariably 'Pravacani', while Pravacana is twelve Ganipitakas, viz. Ayara (Ācārānga) Suyagada (Sutrakṛtānga), Thäṇanga (Sthānanga), Samavāyānga, Viyahapannatti (ie. Vyakhyāprajnapti, Bhagavati Sūtra), Nayadhammakahão, Uvasagadasão, Antagada (Antakṛta), Anuttarovavaiyadasão, Panhavāgaraṇa, Viväga-suya and Diṭṭhivaya."
It is clear from these evidences that the oldest part of the canon according to the tradition as recorded in this
1
Bh8, 9, 33, 382. 6 Ib, 20, 8, 679
25 Ib, 20, 8, 678.
7
Bhs, 20, 8, 682,