Jaina Ethics

SR No.: 001334
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dayanand Bhargav
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 314
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Principle
File Size: 15 MB

Page 250

Ethical Literature of the Jainas
233 as have one class, and the tenth the objects which have ten classes. Thus, attempts have been made to cover the whole Jaina philosophy under divisions and subdivisions of objects. This anga contains many important facts about things which are not religious. It says, for example, that there are three types of trees, four types of Alarkāras, five types of livelihood, six types of Arya families, seven types of Gotras, eight types of Ayurveda and so on.
Abhayadeva's (1063 A.D.) Vrtti is the most important commentary on this anga. Velankar mentions six more commentaries on Sthānānga Sūtra.1 (iv) Samavāyānga :
Samavāyānga contains 275 sūtras. This anga is a continuation of the third anga, giving the objects having one to sāgropamakotākoți varieties.
This anga is important in giving us the contents of the twelfth anga, drşivāda and fourteen pūrvas which are lost to us. This anga is also important as a source of ancient Indian culture as it contains much material about secular subjects from 246 sūtra to 275 sūtra. Like Sthānānga, this sūtra also helps us in giving the varieties of various moral qualities.
Abhayadeva (1063 A.D.) wrote a Vịtti on this sūtra. Velankar mentions two more commentaries on it.2
(v) Vyākhyāprajñapti ::
It contains mostly dialogues between Mahāvīra and Gautama, his principle disciple.
W. Schubring has pointed out that sections 1 to 20 form the germ of the whole whereas sections 24 and 30 as such and 21 to 23, 26 to 29, 31 and 32, 33 and 34, 35 to 40 form groups of uniform contents.3
Abhayadeva wrote a Vịtti (1071 A.D.) on this Anga. Velankar mentions ten commentaries more on this Anga. 4
1. Velankar, H.D., (ed.), Jinaratnakośa, pp. 454-455. 2. Ibid., p. 420. 3. Schubring, W., The Doctrines of the Jainas, p. 88. 4. Velankar, H.D. (ed.), Jinaratnakośa, p. 290-291.