Book Review — Jain Sahitya Ka Brihad Itihas (Vol. II, Agadanga Agam)
Summary
This review of *Jain Sahitya Ka Brihad Itihas (Vol. II, Angabahya Agam)* by Jagadish Chandra Jain and Mohanlal Mehta summarizes the second volume of a comprehensive history of Jaina literature. The book focuses on the Anga-bahya Agamas, which are distinct from the core Anga Agamas produced by Mahavira’s Ganadharas. While Digambaras consider these texts extinct, the Svetambaras preserve them as vital sources. The authors categorize these works into five groups: Upargas, Mila Sutras, Cheda Sutras, Cilika Sutras, and Prakirnakas. The review details the estimated dates of composition, spanning from 300 pre-Vikrama to 1100 Vikrama era, and attributes specific works to figures like Syamarya, Acarya Sayyambhava, Bhadra-bahu, and Haribhadra. The text provides an extensive analysis of the twelve Upargas, which record dialogues between Mahavira and his followers. It highlights the exhaustive content of texts like the *Aupapatika*, which discusses modes of death and the definition of a widow, and the *Rajaprasniya*, which recounts the conversion of the impious King Paesi of Seyaviya to the ascetic Kesikumara. The *Jivajivabhigama* and *Prajnapana* are noted for their detailed cosmological and encyclopedic treatments of *jiva* and *ajiva*. The *Surya-prajnapti* and *Candra-prajnapti* are mentioned for their unique claims of two suns and two moons, reflecting early Jaina cosmology. The *Jambudyipaprajnapti* offers a detailed geography of Jambudvipa and the Jaina time-cycle, including the life of Emperor Bharata. The review further examines the Mila Sutras, particularly the *Uttaradhyayana*, *Avasyaka*, and *Dasavaikalika*, which outline monastic life and spiritual practices. The Cheda Sutras are praised as essential guides for penance and maintaining monastic discipline, with specific mention of the *Dasasrutaskandha* and *Brhat Kalpa*. Finally, the text addresses the Cilika Sutras, such as the *Nandi* and *Anuyogadvara*, which serve as post-scripts and introductions to clarify technical terminology within the Agamas, concluding that the authors have rendered these complex texts into accessible Hindi.
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Conclusion
The reviewed volume offers a comprehensive historical survey of the Anga-bahya Agamas, a significant corpus of Svetambara Jain texts. Its key findings establish the chronological span of these works, stretching over fourteen hundred years, and detail the diverse authorship attributed to highly esteemed spiritual masters. The text systematically categorizes and summarizes the Upangas, Mula Sutras, Cheda Sutras, and Cilika Sutras, highlighting their exhaustive treatment of theology, cosmology, social ethics, and monastic discipline. The book’s primary implication lies in its meticulous preservation of classical spiritual knowledge, making these complex and often inaccessible texts comprehensible to a broader audience through lucid Hindi translations. By faithfully compiling this compendium, the authors provide an indispensable scholarly resource, underscoring the enduring cultural and religious significance of the Anga-bahya Agamas in the broader landscape of Indian literature and philosophy.