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Tirthankara Vardhamana Mahavira
EPILOGUE - II
1. The study of the problems of Jaina Philosophy requires a brief survey of the source material that we can find in the Jaina canonical literature and the later commentaries on the canonical literature. The fundamental principles of Jainism have been preached to the people for ages by their tirthankaras who may be considered as the prophets of religion. Somehow; the teachings of these prophets upto the time of Parsva, the 23rd tirthankara are not available for the benefit of mankind. When we go back from history to proto-history we have to fall back upon tradition and secondary sources. It is with Lord Mahavira, the last tirthankara that we can find ourselves on surer grounds. The original source material for Jainism can be found in the Āgamas and their commentaries.
2. The period of Āgamas may be traced to the time of parinirvana of Mahavira in 527 B.C. The teachings of Mahavira has been collected by the Ganadharas. The conceptual content has been crystalised tn the form of sūtras by the disciples. It is sūtragama. 1
Tirthankara Mahavira preached the doctrine to his Ganadharas who were the principal disciples. His teachings were oral. Ganadharas and their disciples downwards formulated the teachings of the master in a systematic way and presented in the form of codified expression. The formulated expression of the teachings of the tirthankara Mahavira and to some extent of the earlier tirthankaras, is the Sabdagrantha. And it forms the beginning of the canonical literature. The teachings of the carlier tirthankaras were incorporated in the Pūrvas. The Pūrvas contained philosophical discussion which it was difficult for the later generation of followers to definitise and to codify as all the teachings were first transmitted orally from teacher to the pupil for centuries. It is one of the marvels of history that the great teachings of the prophets were transmitted orally for centuries. And the philosophers of the two sections of Jainism (Svetambara and Digambara) are not agreed as to the quantum of the original teachings remaining in tact. Some of it must have been efaced. But the essence of the
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