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Tirthankara Vardhamana Mahavira
variations and changes in the content of the Pūrvas and also the Anga literature with reference to different conditions of time, as long periods of time have elapsed? The Acaranga-sūtra points out that there is uniformity and continuity in the teachings of the tirthankaras as presented in the Anga literature, because the Arihantas had the same approach to the problems of life, and their teachings are similar. From the noumenal point of view, the Jaina canonical literature is eternal (s'asvata). But from the practical point of view the canons are Pourus eya, as they were given by the tirthankaras, 5
Digambara tradition distinguishes the canonical literature into two major divisions : (a) Anga Pravişļa and (b) Anga-Bahya. In (a) Angapravişğa we can mention the 12 Angase with Drşțivada. (b) Arga bahya mentions the 14 works.? Drsțivada has 5 parts. 8 It is maintained, as we saw earlier, that major portion of the 12 Argas and the Pūrvas have been lost and some portion of Drşțivada is available in the S'askhandagama commentaries in the canonical literature, and the works of Kunda Kunda and Umásvati and others form important sources of the philosophical literature of the Jainas. They may also be considered to be included in the Canonical literature. Acarya Kundakunda is held with such esteem that he is mentioned in the invocatory mantra (hymn) along with Lord Mahavira and Gautama Ganadhara.9
The teachings of Mahavira are crystalised in the Canonical literature, which have been copiously interpreted in the numerous commmentaries written by the great Acaryas. These commentaries are known as Niryukti, Cūrņi, Bhaşya and ţika. The Jaina contribution to Indian literature embraces various subjects and they are to be found in different languages, Prākrit (including Ardhamā. gadhi), Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada, Old Hindi, Old Gujarati, etc. "The Jaina authors have considered language only as a means to an end, they never invested any language with religious sanctity”. Buhler wrote many years ago about the content of the Jaina literature. In grammer, in astronomy as well as in all branches of belles letters the achievement of the Jainas have been so great that even their opponents have taken notice of them and that some of their works are of importance for European science even today,
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