Question

Identify the Shvetambara Agamas written in the Ardhamagadhi Prakrit language from the following list:
A. Ganadharavada
B. Bhagavati-sutra
C. Prajnapana-sutra
D. Kasayapahuda
E. Vipaka-sutra

• A. Only A, B, C
• B. Only B, C, E
• C. Only C, D, E
• D. Only A, C, D

Hint:

Ardhamagadhi = Shvetambara Canon (Angas, Upangas).
Shauraseni = Digambara Canon (Shatkhandagama, Kasayapahuda).
This linguistic distinction is the easiest way to separate the two traditions' texts.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Jain canon (Agamas) was originally composed in the languages of the common people. The Shvetambara sect believes that the original teachings of Lord Mahavira are preserved in a set of 45 or 84 Agamas, composed in the Ardhamagadhi Prakrit dialect. These texts are divided into Angas, Upangas, Chedasutras, etc.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Bhagavati-sutra (B): Also known as the Vyakhyaprajnapti, this is the 5th Anga and the largest text of the Shvetambara canon. It is a massive compilation of questions asked by Gautama Swami and answers given by Lord Mahavira, covering history, science, and metaphysics. It is a quintessential Ardhamagadhi text.
2. Prajnapana-sutra (C): This is the 4th Upanga. It is an encyclopedic work dealing with the classification of living beings, their birth, death, and spatial extension. It is attributed to Arya Shyamasuri. It is a core Ardhamagadhi scripture.
3. Vipaka-sutra (E): This is the 11th Anga of the Shvetambara canon. It describes the "ripening" or consequences of Karma through various moral stories. It is also written in Ardhamagadhi.
4. Why A and D are excluded:
- Ganadharavada (A): While it is a text about the debates of Mahavira's disciples, it is often treated as a commentary or a specific thematic work rather than one of the primary "Agamas" in the standard list.
- Kasayapahuda (D): This is a foundational text of the Digambara tradition, written by Acharya Gunadhara. It is written in the Shauraseni Prakrit dialect, not Ardhamagadhi.
Therefore, B, C, and E are the primary Ardhamagadhi Agamas listed.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The texts Bhagavati-sutra, Prajnapana-sutra, and Vipaka-sutra are Ardhamagadhi Agamas.