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In order to understand the style and contents of the Jain swetamber Agams, we may study one of them, the oldest one, the Acharanga.
Acharanga Out of twelve Angas (spiritual Texts), first is Ayaro. Ayaro is synonym of Acharanga. The main theme of Acharanga is to practice religion in order to liberate worldly soul from the bondage of karma. It has been explained through the migration of the soul. Whosoever can understand the steps followed in the migration of the soul, can easily understand the entire philosophy of Jains. Soul and karma are the metaphysical terms employed in different Indian philosophies but each philosophy has defined them in their own way. The noteworthy fact in Jainism is that the concept of the soul has been developed, and explained in many spiritual Jain texts, also. Bhagwati Sutra describes that each soul adjusts and occupies according to the size of the body in its mundane existence, and when liberated, occupies two thirds of the extent of the last body.
According to the Niryuktikara, the first Shrutskandha of Acharanga scripture enjoys the first place because the Acharanga deals with the conduct of ascetics and the practice of three postulates - right perception, right knowledge and right conduct in pursuit of Moksa - which is the essence of all. There is no right knowledge without right faith, no conduct is right without right knowledge and without right conduct there is no liberation. That is why the Acharanga is regarded to be the first and foremost amongst Angas. Hermann Jacobi has pointed out the similarity of archaic style and the linguistic stanzas of Veda and Acharanga. He observed the use of meters, e.g., Gayatri, Anustubh, Brhati, Tristubh; Jagati etc. with 6, 8, 9, 11, 12 syllables are common in Vedas and Acharanga and therefore confirmed that the Acharanga is the first and the oldest canon of Jain tradition.
With the passage of time, it is believed that some portion of the text was lost; hence the text has been abridged to a certain extent. Out of the nine chapters of the Acharanga, the seventh chapter, "Mahaparijna", has been lost in between 1 and 8th century A.D.
There are nine chapters in the Acharanga but there were some differences in the names as well as in the order. We find the following order in the Ayaro, edited by Acharya Mahapragya :
Sathaprima - Comprehension and Abandonment of weapons of injury Logavijao - Pondering over the nature of world Siosanijjam - Endurance of cold and hot
Sammattam
Right view
Logosaro
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The essence of the world
Dhuyam
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Shaking off through austerity
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