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THE GREAT SCRIPTURES OF JAINS
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The written books were placed into small boxes which were again fastened by a cloth. The custom prevails even now. It appears that everey group leader was provided with one set of Agamas, which he carried with him in his wanderings. Names and Contents of the Angas.
1. Ayarunga (Sanskrit Acāranga) is the first of Angas and deals with Acāra, i.e., the way of life. It has two sections known as Sruta Skandhas. The first section which makes a very archaic impression, is decidedly earlier than the second. It records in short and pithy sentences the message of Mahāvīra, most probably in his. own words. It is not a systematic treatment of a particular subject but a collection of wise sayings.
The Ayaranga begins with the fundamental question of Indian philosophy, i.e., the eternity of soul. "Many people do not know about their existence before birth and after death." These lines remind us of the question of Naciketas in the Kathopanişad. The people who know their relation in the next life believe in (1) the existence of soul, (2) in the existence of this universe, (3) in the existence of action and (4) in the existence of the fruit of action. These are the four fundamentals on which the ethics and philosophy of Jains are founded.
Non-violence or the principal of non-killing and non-injury to any being is the essence of Jainism. Mahāvira declares:—"I speak thus, All saints (Arhats) and Lords (Bhagavats) in the past, in the present and in the future, they all say thus, speak thus, announce thus and declare thus; one may not kill, nor ill use, nor insult, nor
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