A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c8.2

c8.2

In each of the two cycles of *kālacakra*, *avasarpiṇī* and *utsarpiṇī* there flourish 24 *Tīrthaṅkaras* in this Bharata kṣetra and Airāvata as well. Moreover, an infinite number of *kālacakras* has elapsed by this time. Hence we can easily conclude that the number of the *Tīrthaṅkaras* that have flourished by this time is infinite. According to the traditional view of the *Jainas*, all the *Gaṇadharas* of each of these *Tīrthaṅkaras* composed *dvādaśāṅgis*. Furthermore, several direct or indirect disciples of every *Tīrthaṅkara*, who were endowed with four kinds of *mati* must have composed *Paiṇṇagas* as stated in *Nandī* (s. 44). Leaving aside the sacred literature that came into existence after the omniscience of Lord Mahāvīra, the preceding one seems to have been practically¹ irrevocably lost for ever. No record is available for it. This is perhaps natural; but it may appear certainly wonderful that there is no complete record to be found regarding the scriptures which were composed during a millennium beginning from 500 B. C. and ending with 500 A. D. Hereby I mean to suggest that we have no means to exactly point out all those scriptures which are now lost to us and of which