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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s12: The Date of the Canons

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s12

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English

The Date of the Canons

c5.s12.1

It should be borne in mind that the Jain Canons collectively do not belong to one particular period. In fact, each part of the Canon should be judged on its own merit after going through its contents carefully. We notice that certain Jain texts are ascribed to later authors by traditions themselves. For instance, the *Pannavanā*, is ascribed to Ajja Sāma (Āry Śyāma) who is said to have lived 376 or 386 years after Mahāvīra's death. The *Dasāśrutaskandha*, the *Piṇḍa Nijjutti* and the *Ogha Nijjutti* are ascribed to Bhadrabāhu (second century after Mahāvīra's death), the *Dasaveyāliya* to Sejjambhava (Śayyambhava), who is counted as the fourth head of the Church after Mahāvīra, and the *Nandi* to Devardhigani, the president of the Council of Valabhī in the tenth century after the death of Mahāvīra (i.e. the beginning of the 6th century A D.)

c5.s12.2

To sum up, the canonical works of the Jains have not originated at one period; their traditions can be traced back to Mahāvīra and his disciples, or to say more correctly to the period of Candragupta when tradition places the council of Pāṭaliputra. But afterwards the sacred books of the Jains had to undergo considerable changes and as a result of which several works or portions of the works were added to them from time to time. Finally, the Canons were written down by Devardhigani in the sixth century A D. which must be taken as the latest date of the *Siddhānta*.

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