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FOUR FUNDAMENTAL SCRIPTURES
(MOOL SŪTRAS)
Bhagwan Mahāvīra's' Āgamas are categorized into five divisions as under: 1. Anga (Body) 2. Upāņga (Limbs) 3. Mool (Root or fundamental basic) 4. Cheda (eradicating of vices) 5. Āvaśyaka (Essential)
Ayurvedic medicines are made from different parts of the plant like roots, stem or branches. Medicines made from different parts are prescribed to different patients according to their ailments. Sometimes mildly poisonous medicines are also prescribed to a patient to get rid of his almost incurable ailment. Using this as a simile, the different categories of aspirants and how to eradicate their vices is explained. According to the levels of their accomplishments, different aspirants' are advised to read different Āgama from the above five sets. From the four fundamental scriptures the first one is ŚRĪ Daśavaikalika Sūtra.
