________________
Town Plannig in the Jain Anga
city of Amalakappā. Both these descriptions were studied and analysed.
295
Comparision :
After completing this reading and its analysis, it was compared to that existing in the Digha Nikaya, the Maijhima Nikaya of the Buddhists, the Meghaduta etc.
The results were compared to the Silpa texts like Aparajitapṛctha, for understanding the aspects of town planning.
After this perusal of literature, the phenomenon described in the Angas and Upanga literature was compared to the available archaeological data.
Finally, prior to drawing the conclusions it is essential to indicate the limitations of this study.
Limitations:
The limitations to this study arise from the nature of the data. Following few of them are noted.
(1) The Angas represent the work of Jain Munis. Their code of conduct noted in the Dvitiya śruta skandha of Acārānga seems to have acted as a constraint in the description. The first constraint noted in the Tratiya Adhyayana, Tṛtiya Uddeśaka state that a monk should not observe the geo-morphological features, forts, details of the cities etc. This prohibition would naturally restrict a monk from ohserving and studying the town and applying the present day method of study. The second constraint is noted in the Caturtha Adhyayana, Dvitiya Uddeśaka about the use of language. This constraint along with the first will not permit the Jain monks to study the towns and describe them as we do at present.
These constraints would be followed to a certain extent and therefore, they would restrict the monks, from the detailed studies of the habitats. Like the Jain monks, the Buddhist monks were also Mumuksus, so their Tripitakas show similar general tendencies.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
