Philosophy In Jain Agams: Definition of Āgama (Canonical Literature)

Definition of Āgama (Canonical Literature)

1. 'āṅg' prefix with the root word of bhvādī gaṇa 'gamlṛ' and adding the suffix 'ac', āgama word is derived.
2.  gamḷṛ root word is attached with suffix 'ghañ' produces the word āgama.^[1]

In Jain tradition, the word āgama has been defined mainly in three ways-

1. The 'āpta puruṣa' (enlightened beings) themselves are āgama.^[2]
2. That which provides the knowledge of existents^[3] or the preaching of āpta is āgama.^[4]
3. The knowledge that is gained by the preachings of āpta is called as āgama.^[5]

According to the first definition āpta is āgama. However, since at present, there are no āpta (enlightened souls) their preachings and knowledge is referred to as āgamas.

An important question arises as to - whose preaching can be considered as authentic? The preachings of tīrthaṅkaras, gaṇadharas, ascetics having knowledge of all the fourteen pūrvas (canonical works of earlier lore), possessors of the knowledge of the ten pūrvas and isolatedly enlightened are considered as āgama.^[6] According to Niyamasāra, āgama contents have no contradiction in their prior and posterior statements.^[7] According to Syādvāda Mañjarī, āpta are those, who have destroyed their attachment and aversion completely and absolutely.^[8]

The āgama, as per the present Jain tradition, was called by name śruta or samyak śruta in ancient Jain tradition.^[9] Depending on this very basis the word 'śruta kevalī' became prevalent.^[10] The words like 'āgama kevalī' or 'sūtra kevalī' are not available at present. It was Acharya Umaswati, who used the term āgama as the synonymous word of śruta.^[11] He also used terms like āpta-vacana, āgama, upadeśa, eitihya, āmnāya, pravacana and jinavacana synonymous to śruta. Actually, the word 'śruta' is being used in a very broad sense here.