Acaranga Sutra

The Acaranga Sutra (or Acharanga) is the first of the eleven Angas, part of the agamas (religious texts)which were compiled based on the teachings of Lord Mahavira.

The Acaranga Sutra discusses the conduct of a Jain monk. In antiquity, Acaranga was the first text that was studied by the Jain monks.

The existing text of the Acaranga Sutra which is used by the Svetambara sect of Jainism was recompiled and edited by KshamaShraman Devardhigani, who headed the council held at Valabhi 980 years after the death of Mahavira. The Digambaras do not recognize the existing text, and regard the original text as having been lost in its original form. The Digambara Mulachara text includes the Digambara tradition derived from Acharanga.

Introduction

The Acaranga Sutra is the oldest agam, from a linguistic point of view, written in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit. The Acaranga Sutra contains two books, or Srutaskandhas. The first book is the older part, to which other treatises were later added. It describes the conduct and behavior of ascetic life: the mode of begging for food, bowl, clothes, conduct while walking and speaking and regulation of possessions by ascetics. It also describes the penance of Mahavira, the Great Hero.

The second book is divided into four sections called Kulas. There were originally five Kûlâs, but the fifth, the Nisîhiyagghana, is now reckoned as a separate work. The first and second parts lay down rules for conduct of ascetics.

Āgamas are the most ancient works in Jaina-literature. We find two versions of Āgamas in Samavāyāṅga — Dvādaśāṅga (Gaṇipiṭaka) and Caturdaśa Pūrva. In the Nandῑ Sūtra we get two divisions of Āgamas — (i) Aṅgapraviṣṭa and (ii) Aṅgabāhya.

All references about the course of studies for the Jaina monks and nuns, which are found in Āgama-literature, are related to the eleven Aṅgas and fourteen Pūrvas. In these references we find numbers of monks and nuns such as Gautama, Padmāvatῑ, Kālῑ, Atimuktaka Kumāra etc. Some of them are known to be the disciples of Ariṣṭanemi and some of them in the order of Mahāvῑra.

The Ācārāṅga has been described in details in Samavāyāṅga and the Nandῑ. According to them, the main studies of the Ācārāṅga are 'Ācāra gocara' i.e. code of conduct, vinaya (humility), vaināyika (fruition of humility), sthāna (difference postures), gamana (travelling), cankramaṇa (movements), bhojana-mātra (quantity of food intake), svādhyāya (spiritual studies), bhāṣā samiti (principles of speech), gupti (restraint or of mind, speech and body), sayyā (place of stay), upādhῑ (belongings) etc. The Ācārāṅga recommends purity of all these aspects. Acharya Umāsvati has briefly dealt with the subject matter of the nine chapters of the Ācārāṅga. They are:

1. Ṣaḍjῑvanikāya yatanā - self-restraint in respect of the six kinds of living beings. 2. Abandoning of ego over worldly things. 3. Conquest over trials and tribulations of life. 4. Unshakable perception about righteousness. 5. Detachment towards worldly affairs. 6. The process to decay or destroy the karmas. 7. Service towards elders. 8. Penance and austerities. 9. Renunciation of attachment to sexual objects

Quotations from Akaranga Sutra

On Ahimsa

I so pronounce that all the omniscients of all times, state, speak, propagate, and elaborate that nothing which breathes, which exists, which lives, or which has essence or potential of life, should be destroyed or ruled over, or subjugated, or harmed, or denied of its essence or potential. This truth, propagated by the self-knowing omniscients, after understanding all there is in universe, is pure, undefileable, and eternal. In support of this Truth, I ask you a question - "Is sorrow or pain desirable to you ?" If you say "yes it is", it would be a lie. If you say, "No, It is not" you will be expressing the truth. What I want to add to the truth expressed by you is that, as sorrow or pain is not desirable to you, so it is to all which breath, exist, live or have any essence of life. To you and all, it is undesirable, and painful, and repugnant.

That which you consider worth destroying is (like) yourself.

That which you consider worth disciplining is (like) yourself.

That which you consider worth subjugating is (like) yourself.

That which you consider worth killing is (like) yourself.

The result of actions by you has to be borne by you, so do not destroy anything.^[1]

Commentaries

Following are the commentaries on the Acaranga Sutra:^[2]

1. Tîkâ of Silanka, also called Tattvâditya, said to have been finished in the 876 CE, with the help of Vâhari Sâdhu.
2. Dîpikâ of Jinahamsa Sûri, a teacher of the Brihat Kharatara Gakkha.
3. Pârsvakandra's Bâlâvabodha, generally closely follows the explanation of the older commentaries, more especially that of the Dîpikâ.
4. Acharanga Bhasyam Author(s): Acharya Mahaprajna (Acharya Tulsi, Acharya Mahashraman)Publisher: Jain Vishva Barati, Ladnun, India

English translations

Popular English Translations are :

1. Illustrated SRI ACARANGA SUTRA (2 volumes), Ed. by Pravartaka Amar Muni, Shrichand Surana Saras, Eng. tr. by Surendra Bothra, Prakrit Gatha — Hindi exposition — English exposition and Appendices
2. Acaranga Sutra, The Jaina Sutras, Jacobi, Hermann (1884)
3. Acharanga Bhasyam Author(s): Acharya Mahaprajna (Acharya Tulsi, Acharya Mahashraman)Publisher: Jain Vishva Barati, Ladnun, India

Editor((s): Muni Mahendra Kumar, Muni Dulaharaj Translator: Dr. Nathmal Tatia

Footnotes

External links

• Text of Akaranga Sutra Translated by Hermann Jacobi