Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
There are many objectives available in the study of Acharanga even today. There were three divisions of those 20 objectives - (1) Laghu (2) Guru (3) Aroopana.
These three are combined with the 25 studies of Pracharanga and are called 28 Acharaprakalp in Samavayangasutra.
When it was separated, it was separated from Pracharanga, so it was named Acharaprakalp. This name was famous during the time of Acharya Bhadrabahu, so he has made many provisions in Vyavaharsutra in the name of Acharaprakalp. In Anga Agamas like Samavayanga, Prashnavyakaran etc., description is available in the name of "Acharaprakalp".
Acharaprakalp and Nishoth: Name Change
The Agam calculation given in Nandi Sutra does not have the name Acharaprakalp, but it has the name Nisheeth, and in Vyavaharsutra, there is no name Nisheeth, but the name Acharaprakalp is many times. Vyavaharsutra was composed earlier and Nandi Sutra was composed hundreds (800) years later. This makes it clear that this Sutra was in the name of Acharaprakalp in front of Bhadrabahu Swami and after him, till Devadhigani, the name Acharaprakalp of that Sutra could not remain famous, but the original name of the study of Acharanga, which was Nisheeth study, got fame in the form of Nisheeth Sutra and Sri Devavachka Pavibhushith Devadhigani Kshamasraman, the creator of Nandi, gave place to that famous name.
The implication is that in the beginning, this study of Pracharanga was in the name of "Nisheeth-study". In front of Bhadrabahu Swami, it was in the name of Pracharaprakalp or Acharaprakalp-study and after him, it got fame in the name of Nisheeth Sutra. Even then, many provisions made in the name of Pracharaprakalp in the original text of Vyavaharsutra are still present in the same form and on the basis of that, appointment, commentary, and commentary are also present.
Appointment, commentary, commentary, etc. commentators have accepted Nisheeth Sutra or Nisheeth-study including Acharanga in the name of "Pracharaprakalp".
Alternative Five Names
Call it the study of Acharangasutra, call it Pracharaprakalp or Acharaprakalp-study or Nisheeth Sutra, all are synonyms of Nisheeth Sutra. Their number is five, namely
1. Study of Acharangasutra - "Nisihajzhayana", 2. Acharaprakalp-study, 3. Acharaprakalp (Sutra), 4. Nisheeth Sutra, 5. Panchama Chala of Acharangasutra.
Thus, this scripture has a changing name from time to time. After the creation of Nandi Sutra, its name "Nisheeth Sutra" became certain, which is still going on.
Explanations - Explainer and Explanation Time
The second Bhadrabahu Swami has done an explanation called appointment on this Sutra. On the basis of Sutra and appointment, Acharya Siddhasenagani did an explanation called commentary, this has been directed many times by Charnikar. According to another opinion, Acharya Sanghadasagani is also said, but this statement is not so important according to Chani.
(13)