A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c8.255

c8.255

So far as the *Puvvas* are concerned, it appears that their study must have been preceded by that of the pertinent portions or the entire ones of the *Parikamma* and the *Sutta*.¹ The study of *Aṇuoga* may have been partly preceded and partly followed by that of the corresponding *Puvva*, in case it dealt with *upakrama* etc., as suggested on p. 9. As regards the branch of hagiology, its study may have been taken up after that of the corresponding portion of the *Puvva* or it may have preceded it, in case either the taught were inquisitive to know the lives of the persons referred to in the *Puvva* they were about to learn or the teacher wanted to create interest about the pertinent *Puvva* amongst his pupils. Whatever it may be, it is almost certain that the study of the *Aṇuoga* which may have been taken up in instalments corresponding to each *Puvva* or which may have been altogether reserved after that of the *Puvva* in question or to take an extreme case after that of all the *Puvvas*, was given up as soon as the study of the *Puvvas* came to an end. If so, it may be said that the loss of the last 4 *Puvvas* was followed by the cessation of the study of the corresponding *Aṇuoga* or as an extreme case by that of the *Aṇuoga* in its entirety, and this cessation must have finally led to its loss. The loss of the remaining *Puvvas* gives rise to a parallel case for the loss of the corresponding *Aṇuoga*.