Causaranapainnayam (Catuhsarana-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, Avestä in Zarthustism, the Bible in Christianity and the Koran in Islam. Although Agamas are neither considered as created by a superhuman entity (Apauruşeya) as the Vedas are taken to be, nor are they considered to be the divine message handed by any prophet as the Bible and the Koran are considered to be, but they are the compilations of the preachings of the most venerable Arhatas and saints, who had realised the truth and attained enlightenment through spiritual practices and self-purification. Although the scriptures say that the Anga Sutras (Primary Canons or the foremost scriptures) are considered to have been preached by the Tirthankaras (the propounders of the Jaina faith), we must remember that they preached only the concept (Artha) that is - they only presented the thoughts or the ideas, which were then given the garb of words or codified into sutras (canonical works or aphorisms) by the Ganadharas (the principal disciples of the Tirthankaras), Acaryas or the spiritual masters heading the monastic orders, and other learned Sthaviras or the elders or the senior monks.'