The Aá¹ guttara NikÃÂya ('; , also translated "Gradual Collection" or "Numerical Discourses") is a Buddhist scriptures collection, the fourth of the five NikÃÂyas, or collections, in the Sutta Piá¹Âaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that comprise the PÃÂli Tipiá¹Âaka of TheravÃÂda Buddhism. This nikÃÂya consists of several thousand discourses ascribed to the Buddha and his chief disciples arranged in eleven "books", according to the number of Dhamma items referenced in them.
Translator Bhikkhu Bodhi wrote: "In Aá¹ guttara NikÃÂya, persons are as a rule not reduced to mere collections of aggregates, elements, and sense-bases, but are treated as real centers of living experience engaged in a heartfelt quest for happiness and freedom from suffering."
The Aá¹ guttara NikÃÂya corresponds to the Ekottara ÃÂgama ("Increased by One Discourses") found in the Sà «tra Piá¹Âakas of various Sanskritic early Buddhists schools, fragments of which survive in Sanskrit. A complete version survives in Chinese translation by the name ZÃÂngyë Ahánjëng (å¢Âä¸Âé¿å«ç¶Â); it is thought to be from either the MahÃÂsÃÂá¹Âghika or SarvÃÂstivÃÂdin recensions. According to Keown, "there is considerable disparity between the PÃÂli and the SarvÃÂstivÃÂdin versions, with more than two-thirds of the sà «tras found in one but not the other compilation, which suggests that much of this portion of the Sà «tra Piá¹Âaka was not formed until a fairly late date."
The nipatas in this nikaya are: