Shruta Panchami

Shruta Panchami (Sanskrit: श्रुत पंचमी) is a religious festival observed primarily by the Digambara sect of Jainism. It falls on the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the lunar month of Jyeshtha (usually May or June).

The festival commemorates the historic completion of the Shatkhandagama, the first written scripture of the Digambara tradition, by Acharyas Pushpadanta and Bhutabali. Historically, this day marks the transition of the Digambara lineage from a purely oral tradition (mukhapatha) to a written literary tradition, an event credited with preserving the canonical knowledge from extinction.

Etymology

The term is a compound of two Sanskrit words:

• Shruta (श्रुत): Literally meaning "that which is heard." In Jain context, it refers to the canon or scripture, traditionally passed down orally through the lineage of teachers.
• Panchami (पंचमी): The fifth day of the lunar fortnight.

It is also occasionally referred to as Shruta-Jnan Panchami (The Fifth of Scriptural Knowledge).

Historical Background

According to Digambara tradition, the original teachings of the tirthankara Mahavira were preserved orally in the twelve Angas and fourteen Purvas. Over the centuries following Mahavira's nirvana, this knowledge began to decline due to the diminishing memory of ascetics and the effects of a twelve-year famine in northern India.

See also

• Mahavira Janma Kalyanaka

References

Citations

Sources