|
|
Jain
Scriptures
Lord Mahavir's preachings were orally
compiled into many texts (scriptures) by his disciples. These scriptures
are known as Jain Agam or Agam Sutras.
The Agam Sutras teach great reverence for all forms of life, strict
codes of vegetarianism, asceticism, compassion, nonviolence and opposition
to war. The scriptures were not documented in any form but were memorized
by ascetics and passed on by oral tradition to future generations
of ascetics. The memorized sutras were divided into two major groups:
Ang Agam Sutras
12 texts which were originally compiled by immediate disciples
of Lord Mahavir, known as Ganadhars; who possessed absolute knowledge
of the soul or keval-jnan. The twelfth text is called Drstiwad, which
includes 14 Purvas.
Angbahya Agam Sutras
14 texts according to the Digambar sect, 34 texts according to
the Swetambar Murtipujak sect and 21 texts according to the Sthanakvasi
and Terapanthi sects. They were originally compiled by Shrut Kevali
monks, who possessed total knowledge of the soul by studying 12 Ang
Agams.
Ang Agam sutras contain direct preaching of Lord Mahavir. They were
compiled immediately after Lord Mahavir's omniscience. Angbahya Agam
sutras provide further explanation of Ang Agams and they were compiled
within 150 years after Lord Mahavir's nirvana.
In the course of time, many of the Agam Sutras were not remembered,
some were modified and new Sutras were added. About one thousand years
after Lord Mahavir's nirvana the memorized Agam Sutras were recorded
on palm leaves (Tadpatris). At that time Drstiwad, the twelfth Ang
Agam text was lost as no monk had memory of this Agam
Swetambar Jains have accepted the recorded Agam Sutras ( 11 Ang Agams
and all Angbahya Sutras) as an authentic version of Lord Mahavir's
teachings, while Digambar Jains have not. They concluded that one
thousand years later, no monks remembered the true original Agam Sutras
(which includes all Ang and Angbahya Agam Sutras). In the absence
of authentic Agam sutras, Digambars follow Shatkhand Agam and Kasay
Pahud as their main texts and four Anuyogs (which includes about 20
texts) written by great ascetics from 100 to 900 AD as their basis
to follow and practice the Jain religion.
45 Agamas according to Swetambar Sect.
| Prakrit name |
Sanskrit name |
| Ayarangam |
Acharanga |
| Suyagadang |
Sutrakritanga |
| Thananga |
Sthananga |
| Samvayanga |
Samvayanga |
| Viyahapannati |
Vyakhyaprajnapti |
| Nayadhammakaha |
Jnatadharmakatha |
| Uvasagadasa |
Upashakadasa |
| Antagadadasa |
Antakritdasa |
| Anuttarovavai |
Anuttaropapatika |
| Panhavagaranam |
Prashnavyakarana |
| Vivagasuyam |
Vipakasutra |
| Diththivao |
Dristivada |
| Uvavaiyam |
Aupapatika |
| Rayapaseniyam |
Rajprashniya |
| Jivabhigama |
Jivabhigama |
| Pannavana |
Prajnapana |
| Suryapannatti |
Suryaprajnapti |
| Jambuddivapannatti |
Jabudvipaprajnapti |
| Chandapannatti |
Chandraprajnapti |
| Nirayavaliya |
Nirayavalika |
| Kappavadimsaya |
Kalpavatansika |
| Puffiya |
Pushpika |
| Puffachuliya |
Pushpachulika |
| Vahnidasa |
Vrishnidasa |
| Chausaran |
Chatuhsharana |
| Aaurapachchakhkhana |
Aaturapratyakhyana |
| Mahapachchakhkhana |
Mahapratyakhyana |
| Bhattaparinna |
Bhaktaparijna |
| Tandulaveyaliya |
Tandulavaicharika |
| Ganivijja |
Ganividya |
| Chandavijaya |
Chandravijaya |
| Devindathaya |
Devendrastava |
| Maranasamahi |
Maranasamadhi |
| Santharaga |
Sanstaraka |
| Dasasuyakhandha |
Dasashrutaskandha |
| Kappasuya |
(Bhrihat) Kalpasurta |
| Vavaharo |
Vyavahara |
| Jiyakappo |
Jitakalpa |
| Nisiha |
Nishitha (Laghu) |
| Mahanisiha |
Mahanishitha |
| Avassya |
Avasyaka |
| Dasaveyaliya |
Dasavaikalika |
| Uttarjjhayanam |
Uttradhyayan |
| Pindanjjutti |
Pindaniryukti |
| Nandisuttam |
Nandisurta |
| Anuogadarasuttam |
Anuyogadwarasutra |
Except these treatises the contribution
of Jaina thinkers to the arts of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, philosophy,
logic, ethics, psychology, theology, rhetoric, poesy, etc., are extremely
valuable. It is now an established fact that the folk-lore in Europe,
in the Middle Ages, had their unmistakable, though remote, source in
the moral tales in ancient India, and it is also well-established that
these popular moral tales were greatly enriched by the compositions
of Jain writers. Striking evidences are even now extant, of the wonderful
skill of the Jaina architects and sculptures. The Cave Temple at Ellora
contains attractive pieces of Jaina sculpture while the Jain temples
on the hills of Abu and Girnar are monuments of the Jain architectural
achievements.
"The Emperor Ashoka propagated
Jainism as far as Kashmir."
-Abul Fasel (
A gem in Akbar's court )
Top
|
