Scientific Contents in Prakrta Canons

SR No.: 001670
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 608
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Science, & Religion
File Size: 9 MB

Page 79

Prākṣta Canons : 57
Table 4 indicates that the Purvas were more voluminous than the Angas. Secondly, as part of Drstivāda, it seems that its biographical and didactic story content of Anuyoga section was very small with only 5000 padas in comparison to the 611 angas having lacs of padas in each. This may also be one of the reasons of loss of Drstivāda by memory as didactics make more permanent impressions.
It may here be mentioned that no commentator has tried to explain the difference in padas in books of different versions and the current position. Had they dealt with this problem, they would have served the system and its followers better. Doshi® has also mentioned this point.
(b) Subject Content --- The subject content also reflects magnitude of a book. This is given in Table 7. One finds that the Svetāmbara version for 11-anga is more detailed and illustrative while the Digambara version for Drstivāda is not so. It seems that the extent Digambara pro-canons are mostly based on Pūrvas rather than Angas. However, it could be verified that the variety of contents in the Angas is enormous, covering every sphere of physical, spiritual and moral universe. Despite
is, some differences in the content mentioned in the two versions may be pointed out. These differences suggest that these holy books were not thoroughly studied to tell the actual contents. The contents were pointed out according to interests. Table 7: Contents of Primary Angas.
Anga
S-version
D (JD) Version
2
1. Ācārānga
Rules, practices for ascetics.
Rules, practices of mendi- cancy ( food, dress, residence, etc.). Five types of practices – faith, knowledge, conduct, penance and internal energy.