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FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S PEN
FOREWORD
Stressing the importance of Acharanga Sutra Acharya Shri Bhadrabahu Swami, the great scholar of Jain canons says
Acharanga contains precepts about the path of attaining liberation. It is the essence of the preaching of the Jina. By studying Acharanga one can acquire proper understanding of Shraman Dharma (Jain religion).
Acharanga Sutra is in two volumes (Shrutaskandha). The first Shrutaskandha was published last year and its brief introduction was included as its preface. The second Shrutaskandha of Acharanga is called Acharagra (the tip of Acharanga) or Achara Chula (the pinnacle of Acharanga); in modern terminology it may be called appendix. It mostly contains details about the conduct of an ascetic. According to the ancient belief the second Shrutaskandha of Acharanga was divided into five Chulas or appendices (Acharanga Niryukti).
The modern editions have only four Chulas, the fifth one being separately compiled as an independent Agam (canon) under the title Nishith Sutra. Acharanga contains the codes of ascetic-discipline and other related topics. The details about atonements and corrections in case of lapses and faults in observing the ascetic codes are detailed in Nishith. Thus Nishith Sutra is almost like an extension of Acharanga Sutra.
The extant four Chulas of Acharanga have following subdivisions
The first Chula has seven Chapters (Adhyayan) and twenty five lessons (Uddeshak)—
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