Some Notes on the Transmission of the Ayaranga-sutta

Summary

Colette Caillat summarises observations on the transmission of the Jain canonical text Ayaranga‑sutta. She notes that the scripture now consists of two srutaskandhas; the first was originally the true Acaranga and contained nine adhyayanas, one of which has been lost. The second is a collection of appendices whose culas have partly become separate treatises. European scholars and Jain editors like Muni Jambuvijaya observed that the text’s transmission has suffered disruptions and that variants are especially pronounced in the second srutaskandha. Caillat compares the Curni and Vrtti traditions: the older Curni preserves a simpler version while the Vrtti contains elaborate expansions. She illustrates differences in length, order and wording, especially in the Bhavana section where passages from other texts have been inserted. Examples show accumulation of synonyms and poetic comparatives, indicating scribal embellishment. Caillat argues that these variants reflect deliberate expansions and rearrangements rather than random errors. She emphasises that Jain acaryas have long engaged in philological work and that modern scholars must continue this critical tradition with respect for sacred texts.