Acaranga Sutra

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Acaranga Sutra is the first of the eleven Angas, part of Svetambara agamas.

Introduction

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 oldest part of Acaranga Sutra to which other treatises have been later on added. The second book is further divided into Kulas or appendices. This Agama describes the acaraor the conduct and behavior of ascetic life. It describes the mode of begging of food, bowl, clothes, the conduct while walking and speaking and regulation of possessions by ascetics. It also describes the penance of Lord Mahavir. The second book consists of four parts (Kûlâ) or appendices. 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.

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]

”

Commentries

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

Tîkâ of Silanka, also called Tattvâditya, said to have been finished in the 876 CE, with the help of Vâhari Sâdhu.
Dîpikâ of Jinahamsa Sûri, a teacher of the Brihat Kharatara Gakkha.
Pârsvakandra's Bâlâvabodha .It generally closely follows the explanation of the older commentaries, more especially that of the Dîpikâ.

English Translations

Popular English Translations are :

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
Acaranga Sutra, The Jaina Sutras, Jacobi, Hermann (1884)

Footnotes

^ Surendra Bothra, Ahimsa - the science of peace
^ Jacobi, Hermann, Acaranga Sutra, The Jaina Sutras, (1884)

External Links

Text of Akaranga Sutra Translated by Hermann Jacobi

Jain Scriptures
Fourteen Purvas (The Prior Knowledge - considered totally lost)
Śvetāmbara (Canonical Texts)		Digambara
Angāgama	Ācāranga sūtra \| Sūtrakrtanga \| Sthānānga \| Samavāyānga \| Vyākhyāprajñapti or Bhagavati sūtra \| Jnātrdhārmakathāh \| Upāsakadaśāh \| Antakrddaaśāh \| Anuttaraupapātikadaśāh \| Praśnavyākaranani \| Vipākaśrutra \| Drstivāda (Now Extinct)	Āgamas	Satkhandāgama \| Kasāyaprabhrta
Upanga āgamas	Aupapātika \| Rājapraśnīya \| Jīvājīvābhigama \| Prajñāpana \| Sūryaprajñapti \| Jambūdvīpaprajñapti \| Candraprajñapti \| Nirayārvalī \| Kalpāvatamsikāh \| Puspikāh \| Puspacūlikāh \| Vrasnidaśāh	Pratham -ānuyoga	Padmapurāna \| Harivamsapurāna \| Ādipurāna \| Uttarapurāna
Chedasūtra	Ācāradaśāh \| Brhatkalpa \| Vyavahāra \| Niśītha \| Mahāniśītha \| Jītakalpa	Carnānuyoga	Mulācāra \| Trivarnācāra \| Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra
Mūlasūtra	Daśavaikālika \| Uttarādhyayana \| Āvaśyaka \| Pindaniryukyti	Karana or Ganitānuyoga	Sūryaprajñapti \| Candraprajñapt \| Jayadhavalātikā \| Gommatasāra
Prakīrnaka sūtra	Catuhśarana \| Āturapratyākhyanā \| Bhaktaparijñā \| Samstāraka \| Tandulavaicarika \| Candravedhyāka \| Devendrastava \| Ganividyā \| Mahāpratyākhyanā \| Vīrastava	Dravyānuyoga	Niyamasāra \| Pancastikayasāra \| Pravacanasāra \| Samayasāra \| Tattvārthasūtra \| Āptamīmamsa
Cūlikasūtra	Nandī-sūtra \| Anuyogadvāra-sūtra	Commentary on Dravyānuyoga	Commentary on Tattvarthasūtra and Aptmimamsa

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