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ĀCĀRĀNGA
The Crest-Jewel of Jain Scriptures
SWAMI BRAHMESHANANDA
Jain scriptures are called śruta, sūtra or more popularly agama. It is believed that they embody the teachings of Tirthankara Sri Mahāvīr imparted to his first apostles, the Ganadharas. This transmission of spiritual wisdom commences when Indrabuti Gautama, the first and the foremost Ganadhara, after duly saluting the Lord asks a question: 'Kim tattam, What is the essence of beings?' Lord Mahāvīr replies: 'Uppannei va, vigamei vā, dhuvei va, Everything takes birth; everything perishes; everything is permanent.' This answer is called tripadi, threefold, on the basis of which twelve principal scriptures of Jains, called Angas, have been composed.1
The Angas are generally in the form of a sermon in which the narrator begins by saying: 'I have heard thus.' It is believed that the narrato is Sudharma Swami, one of the eleven apostles who were present during the dialogues between the Lord and Gautama. He later narrated it to his disciple, Jambu Swami.
Besides the Angas, Uttaradhyayana [believed to be the last sermon of Lord Mahavir] and Dasavaikālika [composed by Arya Shayyambhava, the fourth Acharya after Sudharma Swami) are highly rated and widely studied by all monks. Kalpa Sutra, the life of Lord Mahāvīr, is also widely read.2
1. The twelve angas are: (1) Acaranga (2) Sütrakṛta (3) Sthāna (4) Samavāya (5) Bhagavati (6) Jñata-dharma Katha (7) Upāsaka Dasa (8) Anta-kṛta Dasa (9) Anuttapapaitika (10) Praśna Vyakarana (11) Vipaka and (12) Dṛṣṭivāda.
2. Jain scriptures are classified variously. The earliest classification divides them into anga-pravista and anga-bahya, 'the latter being further subdivied into avaśyaka and āvaśyaka-vyatirikta.
According to another, later but more popular, clasification there are six groups (1) 12 angas (2) 12 upangas (3) 6 cheda sutras (4) 4 mula sūtras (5) 2 cülika sütras and (6) 10 prakimakas.
Jain Education International
From the standpoint of subject-matter they are divided into four anuyogas: (1) Caranakarananuyoga deals with the rules and regulations governing the life of the Jain ascetic. (2) Dharma-Kathanuyoga has mythology,
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