Dr. Samani Mangal Pragya
According to Jain tradition, Tīrthankaras are the preachers of artha-āgama texts and gaṇadharas are the compilers of those teachings called as sūtra-āgama. The eleven aṅga that are available today are believed to be the composition of Gaṇadhara Sudharma.
Traditionally, it is believed that Gaṇadhara Sudharma composed Ācārāṅga just at the time of propounding of tīrtha (fords). Scholars have regarded Ācārāṅga, Sūtrākṛtāṅga and Uttarādhyayana to be the oldest texts both from linguistic and literary point of view.[1] Dr Hermann Jacobi compares it with the style of writing in Brāhmaṇa Sūtra.[2] As per Winternitz and other scholars, the first śrutaskandha of Ācārāṅga is definitely older than the second śrutaskandha.[3]
Ācārāṅga is a significant text for the explanation of conduct (ācāra). Even though conduct is the central point of discussion but many other valuable thoughts and subjects are also found frequently as peripheral points of discussion within this text.
The first book of the Ayarang and the Suyagadanga and Uttarajjhayana contain the oldest part of the canon from linguistic and literary point of view.
