Review of Acaranga

Summary

The “Acaranga” reviewed here refers to Dr. K.R. Chandra’s critical edition of the first chapter of the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the oldest text of the Śvetāmbara Jain canon. The Ācārāṅga is the first of the twelve Angas and is considered the earliest Jain scripture; modern scholars date its first book to the 5th–4th centuries BCE and its second book to the late 4th–2nd centuries BCEhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80c%C4%81r%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga_S%C5%ABtra#:~:text=The%20%C4%80c%C4%81r%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga%20S%C5%ABtra%2C%20the%20foremost,compiled%20based%20on%20the%20teachings. The extant text used by the Śvetāmbara sect was recompiled and edited by Acharya Devardhigani at a council held in Valabhī around 454 CEhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80c%C4%81r%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga_S%C5%ABtra#:~:text=The%20existing%20text%20of%20the,conduct%20of%20a%20Digambara%20monk. Written in Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit, the two books of the Ācārāṅga describe the conduct of mendicants, including rules for begging, walking, speech and possession of worldly goodshttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80c%C4%81r%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga_S%C5%ABtra#:~:text=The%20%C4%80c%C4%81r%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga%20S%C5%ABtra%20is%20the,of%20Mahavira%2C%20the%20Great%20Hero. The first book, which Dr. Chandra edits, also recounts Mahāvīra’s austerities and enumerates ethical principles such as self‑restraint in relation to six kinds of living beings, detachment and the destruction of karmas. The reviewer explains that previous editions of the Ācārāṅga, such as those by Stevenson and Jacobi, relied on limited manuscript evidence. Dr. Chandra consulted a wider range of manuscripts held in Indian and European libraries and collated variant readings. His introduction discusses phonological phenomena like ya‑śruti in Ardhamāgadhī and provides a rationale for selecting particular variants. The edition prints the Prakrit text with critical apparatus, explanatory footnotes and an English translation. The reviewer notes that Chandra’s work corrects several misreadings in earlier editions and clarifies obscure passages. He also discusses textual parallels with related works and draws attention to interpolations added by later redactors. Some scholars disagree with his choice of variants, arguing that he sometimes prefers rarer readings over more common ones. Nevertheless, the reviewer believes that such disagreements are inevitable in textual criticism and that Chandra’s edition will stimulate further research. The review emphasises the importance of critically editing ancient scriptures. Establishing a reliable text is necessary for accurate translation and interpretation. The Ācārāṅga addresses fundamental Jain doctrines such as non‑violence toward all living beings and the discipline required for liberationhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80c%C4%81r%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga_S%C5%ABtra#:~:text=The%20%C4%80c%C4%81r%C4%81%E1%B9%85ga%20S%C5%ABtra%20is%20the,of%20Mahavira%2C%20the%20Great%20Hero. A precise edition enables scholars to study the evolution of these ideas. The reviewer commends Dr. Chandra for his meticulous scholarship and for providing a text that will serve both philologists and practitioners.