Isibhasiyaim

The literal meaning of Isibhasiyaim is translated as "the sayings of sages". Isibhasiyaim is a compound word having two terms Ishi and bhasiyaim. In the Pali literature, the term used for Rishi is Ishi. Similarly the term bhasiyaim means "speaking or saying".

Isibhasiyaim is the collection of the ideas of the Indian philosophical tradition of Vedic sages, Buddhists and Jain Tirthankars from the 10th century BCE to the 6th century BCE. Apart from the ideas of the sages and Tirthankars, it provides the fundamental principles, emotional philosophical concepts and ethical sermons of them. In the text, nowhere insistence or opposition of any tradition comes into view, rather, there resonance of equanimity is reflected.^[2] The text has included the philosophies of forty-five sages. According to Jainism tradition, the twenty sages are of the period of the Tirthankar Neminath, the fifteen sages of the period of the Tirthankar Parsvanath and the ten sages are of the period of the Tirthankar Mahavira.^[3] According to the present system of classification of Jain Aagams, it is classified under Prakirnaka texts of Jainism.

The language of the text Isibhasiyaim is a mixed Prakrit language. It is dominated by Magadhi and Ardhamagadhi. At some parts of the text, it has the influence of Shauraseni and Paishachi. Similarly at some parts it has the influence of Maharashtrian dialects.^[3]

The mention of Rishibhashit is found in the Kalik Sutras enumerated in the Nandi Sutras and Pakkhi Sutras of Jainism. Similarly it is mentioned in the list of the twelve texts of the Anga-Baahya in Tattvarthabhashya by Acharya Umaswati.^[3]