The Acharanga Sutra is the first of the twelve Angas, part of the agamas which were compiled based on the teachings of Mahavira. The existing text of the Acharanga Sutra which is used by the Svetambara sect of Jainism was recompiled and edited by KshamaShraman Devardhigani, who headed the council held at Valabhi c. 454 CE. The Digambaras do not recognize the available text, and regard the original text as having been lost in its original form. The Digambara text, Mulachara is said to be derived from the original Acharanga and discusses the conduct of a Digambara monk.
Introduction
The Acharanga Sutra is the oldest agam, from a linguistic point of view, written in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit. The 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 asking 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. 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, vaināyika, sthāna, gamana, cankramaṇa, bhojana-mātra, svādhyāya, bhāṣā samiti, gupti, sayyā, upādhῑ 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:
Ṣaḍjῑvanikāya yatanā – self-restraint in respect of the six kinds of living beings.
Acharanga Sutra describes lack of clothes as being in full conformity of with Jain doctrine. Another passage in the Acharanga refers to the difficulties experienced by naked monk and also to the fact that he does not need tobeg for and repair clothes.
Commentaries
Following are the commentaries on the Sutra:
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, generally closely follows the explanation of the older commentaries, more especially that of the Dîpikâ.
