Mulachara () (Fundamental Conduct) is a Jain text composed by
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists. The designation has different meanings i ...
Vattakera of the
Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major Jain schools and branches, schools of Jainism, the other being ''Śvetāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic pract ...
tradition, around 150 CE. Mulachara discusses ''anagara-dharma'' – the conduct of a
Digambara monk
A Digambara monk or Digambara Sādhu (also ''muni'', ''sādhu'') is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold ''sangha''. Digambar Sādhus have 28 primary attributes which inc ...
.
[Mulachara Ka Samikshatmaka Adhyayana; Premi, Phulchand Jain, 1987] It consists twelve chapters and 1,243 verses on (mendicant discipline). It is also called Digambara Acharanga. It is said to be derived from the original
Ācārāṅga Sūtra
The Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the foremost and oldest Jain text (''First book'' c. 5th–4th century BCE; Second book c. Late 4th–2nd century BCE), is the first of the twelve Angas, part of the agamas which were compiled based on the teachings o ...
and discusses the conduct of a
Digambara monk
A Digambara monk or Digambara Sādhu (also ''muni'', ''sādhu'') is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold ''sangha''. Digambar Sādhus have 28 primary attributes which inc ...
.
The text is written in a dialect that is distinct but shares characteristics with
Ardhamagadhi. Its dialect has been called Digambara Sauraseni (or Jain Sauraseni) and proposed to reflect the language of ancient
Mathura
Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...
region by Indian scholars. Many characteristics of the Mulachara manuscript, as found in
Karnataka
Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
, share elements of monastic conduct found in
Śvetāmbara
The Śvetāmbara (; also spelled Shwetambara, Shvetambara, Svetambara or Swetambara) is one of the two main branches of Jainism, the other being the Digambara. ''Śvetāmbara'' in Sanskrit means "white-clad", and refers to its ascetics' practi ...
scriptures. Some of the verses of ''Mulaccara'' are almost same as those found in Śvetāmbara's ''Dasavaikalika''. This suggests the existence of an ancient shared textual tradition between Digambaras and Śvetāmbara, one that likely split and differentiated later.
Vasunandin wrote a Sanskrit commentary on the ''Mulacara'', and it is titled ''Acaravrtti''.
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See also
* List of Jain texts
Jain literature () refers to the literature of the Jain religion. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition, which was initially transmitted orally. The oldest surviving material is contained in the canonical ''Jain Agamas'', which are wri ...
References
Bibliography
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*
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*Vaṭṭakera. ''Mūlācāra'', ed. K. Shastri, J. Shastri and P. Jain, 2 vols, New Delhi, 1984 and 1986.
Further reading
*Vaṭṭakera. ''Mūlācāra'', ed. K. Shastri, J. Shastri and P. Jain, 2 vols, New Delhi, 1984 and 1986.
External links
Hindi translation of Mūlacāra (Digital Library of India)
Jain texts
{{India-lit-stub