Jaina Philosophy

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 31

JAINA PHILOSOPHY : AN INTRODUCTION
of the Drștivāda. Thus, up to preceptor Sthūlabhadra all the twelve Angas could be preserved.
The second council met under the chairmanship of preceptor Skandila at Mathura after 825 years of the death of Lord Mahāvīra.' Another similar council synchronising with the second one was held at Valabhs under the presidentship of preceptor Nāgārjunasūri.
The third council also met at Valabhī under the chairmanship of preceptor Devardhigaại Kșamāśramaņa after 980 (or 993) years of Lord Mahāvīra's emancipation. At this council all the canonical texts then available were systematically written down and an attempt was made to reconcile the differences pertaining to the two councils previously held at Mathura and Valabhī.
The texts other than the Angas (the Angapravista group) belong to the group known as Angabāhya. This Angabāhya group is classified into five sub-groups. Thus, we have in all six groups of canonical texts. They are known by the following names: (1) Angas, (2) Upāngas, (3) Mülasūtras, (4) Chedasūtras, (5) Cūlikāsūtras,' and (6). Prakīrņakas. All these works are in Prakrit. Angas :
The Angas are twelve in number. They are as follows: (1) Acāra, (2) Sūtrakrta, (3) Sthāna, (4) Samavāya, (5) Vyākhyāprajñapti or Bhagavatī, (6) Jñātādharmakathā, (7) Upāsakadaśā, (8) Antakrddaśā, (9) Anuttaraupapātikadašā, (10) Praśnavyākarana, (11) Vipākaśruta, (12) Destivāda.
The Acārānga is divided into two sections. The first section has at present eight chapters but formerly it had nine. The second section has sixteen chapters. This Anga, as its very name suggests, deals with the way of life of a monk. It furnishes us with materials pertaining to the life of Lord Mahāvīra. The first section is the oldest of all the Jaina works.