________________
12
Early Jaina Sacred Literature. The knowledge of Shruti, Shruta-Jnána, may be of things which are contained in the Angas (Limbs or sacred books of the Jainas) or of things outside the Angas. There are 64 simple letters of the alphabet. Of these 33 are consonants, 27 vowels, and 4 auxiliary (which help in the formation of compound letters). The total number of possible combinations of these 64 simple letters into compounds of 2, 3, 4, or more up to 64 letters is:
24-1-1,84,46,74,40,73,70,95,51,615. These are the letters (simple and compound) of Shruta in its entirety. This number being divided by 16,348,307,888, which is the number of letters in a central foot (madhyama-pada) of the Paramagama, (Sacred Jaina Literature), gives us the number of padas of the Angas as 11, 283, 58, 005. The remainder 80,108,175, gives us the letters of that part of Shruta which is not contained in the Angas. This part is divided into 14 Prakírnakas.
1.-The Twelve Angas, The Angas are twelve, as follows:
1. The Achára-anga comprises a full exposition of the rules of conduct for ascetics. It contains 18,000 Madhyama Padas.
2. The Sútrakrita-anga comprises a detailed exposition of knowledge, humility, etc., of religious rites and difference between the rites of one's own religion and those of the other one-sided views. It contains 36,000 Madhyama Padas.
3. The Sthána-anga comprises an exposition of one or more sthánas, or numerical points of view in considering Jiva (Soul),Pudgala (Matter) and other Dravyas. While the Jiva-dravya, or soul. is from the point of view of consciousness one and the same everywhere; from the point of view of being liberated (siddha) or mundane (samsárin) it is of two kinds. Similarly, the samsárin, or mundane Jíva, that is, the soul not yet perfectly freed from the bondage of karmas, which keep it moving in the cycle of existences is of three kinds, one sensed, immobile (sthávara), not full-sensed (vikalendriya), and in possession of all the organs of the senses, full-sensed (sakalendriya). The liberated souls too, are of many kinds from the point of view of place, time, etc. This anga contains 42,000 M. padas.
4. The Samaváya-anga gives an account of the similarities that arise from the point of view of Dravya (elements of the universe), Kshetra (place), Kála (time), Bháva (character). From the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org