Gacchayara-Painnayam (Gacchacara-Prakirnaka)

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Preface In every faith scriptures occupy an important position amongst religious texts. Agamas enjoy the same position and importance in the Jaina faith as the Vedas in Hinduism, Tripitaka in Buddhism, Avesta in Zarthustism, the Bible in Christianity and the holy Koran in Islam. Although the Agamas are neither considered to as created by a superhuman entity or Apauruseya as the Vedas are considered to be, nor are they considered to be the divine message handed down by any prophet as the Bible and the Koran are considered to be, but they are the compilations of the teachings of the most venerable Arhatas and sage saints, who had realised the truth and attained enlightenment through spiritual practices and purification. Although the scriptures say that that the Anga Sutras or the Primary canons or the foremost scriptures are considered to have been preached by the Tirthankaras or the Prophet Propounders of the Jaina faith, we must remember that they preach only the meaning (Artha) i.e. they only present the thoughts or the ideas, which are then given the garb of words or codified into sūtras or canonical texts by the Ganadharas - the principal disciples of Tirthankaras, Acaryas (Spiritual masters) and other learned elders or senior monks (Sthaviras).