The Jain Concept of Śramaṇa in the Aupapātika Sūtra
By Ch. Lalitha
Summary
Lalita Chatterji surveys the Jain *Aupapātika Sūtra*, the first of the twelve Upāṅgas in the Śvetāmbara canon. After classifying Jain scriptures into *aṅgas* and *upāṅgas*, she highlights the structure of the *Aupapātika*: its first part narrates cosmic geography, describing heavenly and hellish realms and the instantaneous rebirth (aupapatika) of beings; the second part lists the duties and austerities of monksfile:///home/oai/share/520769%20(19)%201-182.pdf. The text portrays the ideal *śramaṇa* as one who renounces anger, pride, deceit and greed, controls the senses and practises both external penances (fasting, meditation, pilgrimage) and internal penances (repentance, scriptural study)file:///home/oai/share/520769%20(19)%201-182.pdf#:~:text=A%20True%20Sramana%20And%20His,in%20one%27s%20movements. It prescribes 354 minor vows and emphasises that liberation requires rigorous self‑discipline and compassion. Chatterji notes that the *Aupapātika* influenced later Jain manuals and shows continuity between early canonical ethics and medieval commentaries.
Conclusion
The article reveals that the Jain monk ideal was shaped by a complex synthesis of cosmology, ethics and practice. By cataloguing the *Aupapātika*’s injunctions, Chatterji underscores the demanding nature of Jain asceticism and its emphasis on both external behaviour and internal attitudes. The conclusion suggests that comparative studies of early Jain and Buddhist monastic codes could further illuminate shared patterns and divergences.