A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c7.27

c7.27

Gaṇi Kṣamāśramaṇa, after the terrible famine which had lasted for 12 years, came to an end. At this council, all the important works of the *Jainas* then available were written down. This event is technically known as *pustakārohaṇa* of the *Jaina Āgamas* or ‘Redaction of the Jaina Canon’.¹ It appears that the Skāndiliyas who had attended this council believed that this Redaction of the *Jaina* canon could be dated as *Vīra Saṃvat* 980 whereas the Nāgārjuniyas said that the correct date was *Vīra Saṃvat* 993 (vide p. 64, ll. 4-6).² Thus this difference had its origin in the fact that some saints thought that 980 years had then elapsed since the *nirvāṇa* of Lord Mahāvīra, whereas others thought that 993 years had elapsed. Whatever may be the exact date, this Redaction of the Canon has been a momentous event in the *Jaina* annals. Its importance lies in the following particulars:—