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After some time, according to the Svetāmbara tradition, there were held four Councils in Patāliputra, Mathurā and Valabhi where the Acāryas tried to gather the Agamas to the best of their ability. The present form of the Svetāmbara Jaina Canon is said to be the result of the Second Valabhi Council held under the presidency of Devardhigaṇin KşamaBramaņa in the beginning of the sixth century A. D. 993 years after Mahāvīra attained nirvāna.
This indicates clearly that the Svetāmbara Āgama was not the product of one period. It developed gradually during the course of several generations. It is not, therefore, unnatural if certain things have been changed 104, However, a good portion of very important and valuable material compiled in ancient times remains intact. Winternitz rightly says, "The works of the Siddhānta cannot have originated during one period. The canon which Devardhi compiled, and which has come down to us, is the final result of a literary activity that must have begun as soon as the organisation of the order and the monastic life were firmly established. This was ia probability the case not long after the death of Mahāvīra. The earliest po. rtions of the Canon may, therefore, quite possibly belong to the period of the first disciples of Mahavira himself, or at the latest to the second century after Mahivira's death--the period of the Maurya Chandragupta, in which tradition places the Council of Pătliputra---whilst the latest portions should probably be dated nearer to the time of Devardhi"105. In support of this statement other evidences are collected by Dco.106
Resemblance to Pali literature
The Svetambara Jaina Canon which is the result of several centuries appears to hive a close resemblance to Pāli scripture which was compiled in the first or second century after the Buddha's demise. In other words, the Jaina Canon has been influenced by Päli literature. The language and style are good enough evidences in this connection. For instance, a stanza of the Uttaradhyana ( 9.44 ), viz,
| SR No. | 011023 |
| Book Title | Jainism in Buddhist Literature |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar |
| Publisher | Alok Prakashan |
| Publication Year | 1972 |
| Total Pages | 326 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 12 MB |