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FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN
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This is the second part of Shri Sthaananga Sutra. The first part contained matter starting from the first Sthaan to the third lesson of the fourth Sthaan. The remaining matter from the fourth lesson of the fourth Sthaan to the tenth Sthaan is included in this second part.
Sthaananga Sutra itself is a voluminous work. It contains so many subjects that had we given even brief elaborations it would have taken three such volumes. Many topics stated in aphoristic style, indeed, require elaborations. Some examples are description of Hetu and Ahetu from logic; seven Nayas, seven Nihnavas, ten Acharyas and many other important topics
On many topics Abhayadev Suri, the commentator (Tika), has quoted many examples and incidents from ancient tradition. These references are enlightening and edifying to a great extant..
Besides this a comparative study of this work with Jain, Buddhist and Vedic literature is also important. Buddhist works like Anguttara Nikaya and Atthakatha as well as Vedic works like Mahabharat have many topics that have great similarity with similar descriptions in Sthaananga Sutra. These passages indicate that during that period each religious preceptors discussed numerous topics like universe, heaven and hell, health and ethics, and attributes of humans in his individual and unique style. A comparative and research oriented study on those topics is very much desired. But such task requires considerable time and labour besides availability of variety of books and co-operation of many scholars. As such...
In this edition we have worked with limitations of means, time and resources but we are confident that this would be very useful for acquiring the basic knowledge of the Agams.
Much has been written about the Sthaananga Sutra in the preface of the first part. A repetition of that introduction is not required. I would only advise the readers to read the Agams at
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