Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 59

34
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
Ch. II
Thus there are found three stages of the development of the BKS and the other canonical works, first, they were derived from the teachings of Lord Mahāvīra and given a shape of Grantha by the composition of Sudharman Swāmin and then they were transmitted by him to Jambū Swāmin ; in the second stage they were collected and fixed in the Pāšaliputra Council and in the third stage they were codified by the Vallabliż council under the presidency of Devarddhi Gaộin as the tradition says. Origin and development of the BhS:
It appears from the traditions as embodied in the BAS itself that the core of its ideas of philosophy and thoughts of the previous Tirthañkaras existed long before the time of Lord Mahāvīra in association with the other Aryas, but they generally refer to the Purvas as the original scriptures. As regards the tradition there may be the truth that the core of its contents and subject-matter existed in the distant past and came down to the time of the Master, for its form is so much associated with the time and place, occasion, history and performance that the entire environment appears to be post-Mahāvīra. The mention of king Seņiya and queen Cellanā of Rajagrha," king Kūņiya of Campā', the president-king of Vaiśālī, king Udayana of Kausāmbīs, king Udāyana of Sindhu-Sauvīra" and king Śiva of Ilastināpura', that of the Non-Aryans, foreign peoples, like the Āratīs, Singhalās, Pārasīs, etc., the record of the first schism led by Jamālī? and the legend of Gośāla Mankhaliputra®--all these facts support the above contention that they have been incorporated into this canonical work later on.
As already pointed out in the first chapter the evidence of the Samavāyānga shows that the Viyaha-Pannatti had not yet attained half of its present size at the time of the former, as there is the mention of 84,000 padas in this work instead of 1,84,000 padas as recorded in the latter. Besides, the tradition expressly acknowledges the additions of certain portions called Vivāha Cūlāh (appendices) to the fifth Anga. i bhs, 1.1, 4.
2 Ib, 7, 9, 300. 3 16, 12, 2. 441. 4:10, 13, 6, 491.
5 1b, 11, 9, 417. 61b, 9, 33, 380. ? 16, 9, 33, 386-7. 8 16, 15, 1, 539-61.