Agam Aur Tripitak : Ek Anusilan (Review)
By H. Srimal
Summary
H. Srimal reviews Muni Sri Nagraj’s comparative study 'Agam aur Tripitak: Ek Anusilan'. The work, projected in three volumes, examines the histories, traditions, literature and doctrines of Jain Agamas and Buddhist Tripitakas. The first volume, written in Hindi, surveys the lives of Mahavira and Buddha, narrating their previous births, births, initiation, austerities, enlightenment and subsequent teaching careers. The reviewer highlights Nagraj’s observation that the lives of the two masters exhibit striking parallels and that scholars have sometimes confused them as a single figure. Chapters ten to sixteen discuss the spread of the two religions, their apostles and disciples, lay‑followers and royal patrons, while chapter seventeen compares the monastic codes of conduct, noting both similarities and differences. Nagraj notes that the Agamas mention little about Buddha and that the Tripitakas almost ignore Mahavira, suggesting that Jain scriptures have undergone less interpolation. The reviewer praises the inclusion of technical glossaries and appendices but suggests that the author could have addressed the influences of Vedic systems and provided contemporary maps. Srimal laments that such an important study is accessible only to Hindi readers and urges translation into English to benefit a wider audience.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
Srimal concludes that Muni Sri Nagraj’s study is a valuable contribution to comparative Jain and Buddhist scholarship. He commends the detailed historical analysis but recommends translating the work into English to reach international scholars. The review underscores the importance of understanding parallels and differences between the two traditions to appreciate their distinct identities instead of confusing them as one !