Jaina Sutras Acharanga and Kalpa Sutra

Contents: Preface. Introduction. First Book: 1. Knowledge of the weapon. 2. Conquest of the world. 3. Hot and cold. 4. Righteousness. 5. Essence of the world. 6. The cleaning. 7. Liberation. 8. Pillow of righteousness. Second book: 1. Begging of food. 2. Begging for a couch. 3. Walking. 4. Modes of speech. 5. Begging of clothes. 6. Begging for a bowl. 7. Regulation of possession. 8-14. The seven lectures. 15. Fifteenth lecture: Fourth part. 16. Sixteenth lecture: the liberation. Kalpa Sutra of Bhadrabahu (lives of the Jinas): 1. Life of Mahavira (five lecture). 2. Life of Parsva. 3. Life of Arishtanemi. 4. Epochs of the intermediate Tirthankaras. 5. Life of Rishabha. 6. Life of Sthaviras. 7. Rules for the Yatis. Appendix. Index.

"Some important Jaina Sutras in Prakrit language were translated into English by Prof. Hermann Jacobi, a learned scholar of the west. His translation of Jaina Sutras created a profound influence and interest amongst western scholars towards Jainism, one of the oldest religions of India.

These Sutras originally were edited and published by Prof. (Dr.). F. Max Muller, the renowned Sanskrit scholar and Indologist at Oxford, a century age.

The present publication includes two translated works from Prakrit: Acharanga and Kalpa Sutra. Acharanga Sutra is the first of the eleven Angas and Kalpa Sutra is an Upanga which show the early stage of the development of Jainology when the tradition of the four Jinas was cherished by the Jaina community.

Acharanga (Acaranga) the first Jaina Anga contains important conduct rules for the Jaina monks and Jaina nuns. The text is a mixture of both prose and verse and the sermons contained in it consist mainly of exhortations and warnings to the young monks, besides ascetic decorum and religious etiquettes to be followed by them.

Kalpa Sutra is a great authority and is always read publicly during Varsavas (Chaturmas) and Pajjusan. Its major portion is devoted to the biographical references of the four Jinas including Mahavira.

The English translation of the Jaina Sutras are widely read throughout the world to understand the Jaina religion and philosophy." (jacket)