Atmavallabh

SR No.: 012062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jagatchandravijay, Nityanandvijay
Publisher: Atmavallabh Sanskruti Mandir
Publication Year: 1989
Total Pages: 300
Language: Hindi, English, Gujarati
Classification: Smruti_Granth & Articles
File Size: 55 MB

Page 181

The oldest texts are the Angas, believed to have been originally 12, but only 11 survive. The word anga means a limbe, that is a part of the canon. The remaining 34 texts are called Angbahya, they are regarded as subsidiary to the Anga Collection. There are 12 Upanga texts which parallel the 12 Angas. Then there are 10 Prakirnas, Six Chedasutras four Mulasutras, and two Chulikasutras.
Let us now look at the contents of the Angas. Needless to say, this is only a very sketchy summary. Extensive commentaries have been written by later writers on these texts, described as curni, nijjutti, bhasa, as well as various other explanatory writings. One difficulty is that the names of these scriptures take various different forms, as the title may be given in Sanskrit or Prakrit. Problems of Romanisation of Indian languages add to the complications. Modern critical scholarship. Jain and non-Jain (including the work of European scholars), has done much to elucidate the process of compilation of these texts, without detracting from their religious importance, and has importance, and has shown that they are generally made up of various sections brought into order and put together in many cases a considerable time after they were originally produced. Here, then, are the eleven surviving angas. They are, of course, in the Ardhamagadhi Prakrit, and they were transmitted for many centuries in manuscripts written on palm leaf strips often held together by cords. When paper came into use the same oblong shape was retained, and this indeed, continued, and this, indeed, continued in modern printed editions. Many of these have been translated into European languages, especially German and English, though the translated versions are not always easy to come by. 1. ACARANGA This is certainly one of the oldest
texts, though it was not all composed at the same time. The contents are varied, dealing with, amongst other matters, ahimsa, the life of Mahavira, and rules for the conduct of monks. Much incidental detail of life in early
India may be found in the text. 2. SUTRAKRTANGA This anga contains much
detail on non-Jain philosophical systems. Like other texts it contains a variety of material: the
different forms of life are described in one of Karma, respectively evil and good. (12 the
section, the hells and their tortures in another. twelfth anga has been lost.) 3. STHANANGA is concerned not with the The next section of the Svetambara canon techings of Mahavira but with a miscellaneous
comprises the text know as Upangas. Although collection of matters arranged in categories.
these, like the Angas are 12 in number, there is no
correspondence between the two sets of texts. As 4. SAMAVAYANGA (probably one of the latest)
with the Angas, numerous commentaries on the is similar.
Upangas have been written by Jain scholars 5. VYAKHYAPRAJNAPTI The most important through the centuries. anga, this gives a wide-ranging survey of the
1. AUPAPATIKA This is probably the most teachings of Mahavira, largely in the form of
important work in this group. There is a answers to questions given by Mahavira to his
description of the visit of Mahavira to the close disciple Gautama indrabhuti. There is a
vicinity of the town of Campa where he great deal of incidental information on society
delivered a sermon before the king Kunika and political history near the political history near the time of Mahavira. The life of Gosala,
Ajatasatru, ruler of Anga-Magadha. Various
other topics are dealt with in the second part of leader of the Ajivikas, is given. (The Ajivikas
the text, mainly in the form of replies by were a rival religious group arising around the
Mahavira to questions by his disciple Gautama time of Mahavira and the Buddha, and
on subjects such as reincarnation and surviving at least to the twelfth century AD.)
Moksha. 6. NAYADHAMMAKAHAO is more readable 2. RAJAPRASNIYA Much of this work consists
than many Jain scriptures as it contains a lot of of a dialogue between a monk, Kesi, who is a improving stories. For example, Mahavira follower of the twentythird Tirthankara Parsva, expounds the virtue of patience by telling how and a king. Parsi by name, and it includes a as an elephant in a previous incarnation, he discussion on the nature of the soul. patiently protected a hare beneath his uplifted 3. JIVAIVABHIGAMA gives a detailed classififoot.
cation, in the manner beloved of Jain scholars, 7. UPASAKADASA Ten (dasa) accounts of 2
of the different categories of animate beings. pious layman in Mahavira's time.
that is being having a soul, Jiva.
4. PRAJNAPANA The longest of the upangas, 8. ANTAKRDDASA Various narratives, grouped written by, or at least based on the work of, one
partly in tens, and referring in many cases to Arya Syama. It is a methodical collection, in the time of the twenty-second Tirthankara, question and answer form, of definitions or Aristanemi, said to have been the contempor- categories relating to a wide variety of ary of Krsna.
subjects, eg, living and non-living things. 9. ANUTTAROPAPATIKADASA also in ten 8.
speech passions, Karma, and many others. only are of real interest and 5. SURYAPRAJNAPTI starts in questions and originality, these concern persons reborn in answer form (but does not continue in this the highest heavens.
style). Once again, Gautama and Mahavira are 10. PRASNAVYAKARANA The titles of the two
the speakers. It is a treatise on astronomy, parts of this work are Asvra (inflow of Karma)
dealing with the sun, moon, and stars. and Samvara (cessation of inflow). The five 6. JAMBUDVIPAPRAJNAPTI A description of great sins and the five great renunciations the geography of jambudvipa, the inhabited appear, together with much information on central part of the universe, social life of ancient times, crime and
7. CANDRAPRAJNAPTI This Upanga repeats punishment and other topics.
(with minor variants) the latter part of the 11. VIPAKASRUTA TWO Groups of ten quite Suryaprajnapti (above), dealing with the moon
readable stories illustrating the consequences and stars.
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