Prakrit Proper Names (Agamic Index I) v1.c5.s1.10

v1.c5.s1.10

Agama The term Agama occurring in the Ayara is explained by its commentator as teachings of an omniscient ² In the same sense it is also used in other works ³ In the Bhagavati while defining the vyāaha Agama is differentiated from Suya According to its commentator Agama means the knowledge of a kevalin (omniscient) as well as of a manah paryayajñanin avadhiyṇanin and of those who are learned in the fourteen ten or nine Puvvas whereas Suya (śruta) means aṅga pakalpa etc i e the rest of the scriptures (excluding those coming under Agama) Agama is also said to be one of the four means of knowledge the other three being pratyaksa anumana and upama Agama is of three types namely (i) atmagama which is the knowledge acquired by the self i e the knowledge of a Titthamkara, (ii) anantaragama which is acquired directly from a Titthamkara i e the knowledge of a Gaṇadhara and (iii) paramparagama which is acquired by tradition i e the knowledge of the disciples of Ganaharas 7 Again it is variously classified as sutāgama (sūtrāgama) atthagama (arthagama) and ubhayagama 8 as well as laukika and lokottara.9 That which is preached by the men of wrong faith is called laukika viz Bhārsha(2) Rāmāyaņa etc That which is preached by an omniscient (Arihamta) is lokottara and it constitutes Duvālasamga Gaņi-piḍaga10 and fourteen Pavvas 1 Agama in the wide sense means the sacred scriptures as a whole 12 Agama is said to be eternal 13 The other names of Agama are Suya, Sutta (1) etc 1 See also Suya and Pavayaņa