ANGA

(Pali and Sanskrit: limb, or division), any of several categories into which Buddhist canonical writings were divided in early times, beginning before the Abhidhamma (scholastic) works were added to the canon. The system, based on a combination of form and content, originally categorized types of material within the various texts; later, it was used to classify the texts themselves. The Theravada and Mahasanghika schools used an ancient ninefold division; a system of 12 categories was the most common division in other schools, especially Mahayana. The nine angas in Pali, with their Sanskrit counterparts where different, are: 1. Sutta, or sutra (discourse), sermons or discourses of the Buddha in prose. This category was said to include the vinaya (monastic discipline) material. Apart from the anga system, sutta is distinguished from vinaya (and the prose limitation is dropped). 2. Geyya, or geya (a technical term meaning mixed prose and verse), sutta that incorporates gatha (verse). 3. Veyyakarana (explanation, or prophecy), a category into which the whole Pali Abhidhamma Pitaka (Basket of Special Doctrine) has been placed, together with miscellaneous works. For the Sarvastivada (Doctrine That All Is Real) school, the Sanskrit category vyakarana meant the Buddha's prophecies concerning his disciples. 4. Gatha (verse), works in poetic form. 5. Udana (inspired utterance), special sayings of the Buddha in prose or verse (also the name of a work in the Pali Khuddaka Nikaya [Short Collection]). 6. Itivuttaka (thus it is said), sayings of the Buddha introduced by these words; many of them comprise a Khuddaka Nikaya work with this title. The Sanskrit category itivrttaka comprises stories about past lives of disciples. 7. Jataka (birth; see Jataka), tales of former lives of the Buddha. 8. Abbhutadhamma, or adbhutadharma (wondrous phenomena), stories of miracles and supernatural events. 9. Vedalla (perhaps meaning subtle analysis), teachings in catechetical form, according to the Pali system. The Sanskrit tradition places here, as vaipulya, a number of important Mahayana works, including the Lotus Sutra, Astasahasrika-prajaparamita, and Lankavatara-sutra. The 12-fold Sanskrit system adds these categories: Nidana (cause), a classification for introductory material and historical narratives. Avadana (Noble Deeds), Buddha's stories of the good deeds in people's former lives and their present results (see Apadana). Upadesa (instruction), discussions of doctrinesometimes esoteric doctrineoften in question-and-answer form. The term has also been used for Abhidhamma (scholastic section of the canon), for philosophical treatises, for Tantric works, and for commentaries.