A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c6.154

c6.154

Schubring (*Kalpasūtra*, p. 8 and *Orientalistische Literaturzeitung*, 1924, 484) assumes that the expressions *Cheda-sūtra* and *Mūla-sūtra* are derived from *Cheda* and *Mūla*, two kinds of penances¹ mentioned in Jainism.² It may be added that the *Mūlasūtra*, at least in their present form seem to have nothing to do with penances. *Cheda* means 'cut', and consequently *Chedasūtra* may be construed as a treatise which prescribes cuts in seniority (*dikṣā-paryāya*) in the case of the *Jaina* clergy on their violating any rules of their order.³