Jain literature is classified into two major categories:
Agam literature is also divided into two groups:
- Agam Literature
This consists of original scriptures complied by Gandharas and
Srut-kevalis. They are written in the Prakrit language.
- Non-agam Literature
This consists of commentary and explanation of Agam literature and
independent works, complied by elder monks, nuns, and scholars. They
are written in many languages such as Prakrit, Sanskrit, Old
Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannad, Tamil, German, and English.
- Ang-agams or Ang-pravista-agams
These texts contain the direct preaching of Lord Mahavir. They were
complied by Ganadharas.
- Ang-bahya-agams (outside of Ang-agams)
These texts are expansions of Ang-agams. They were complied by
Lord Mahavir's preaching was methodically compiled by his followers
into many texts. These texts are collectively known as Agams, the sacred
books of the Jain religion. Hence, the Jain religion does not have one
sacred book like the Bible or Koran, but it has many books complied by
Lord Mahavir's immediate disciples were known as Ganadharas. All
Ganadharas possessed perfect knowledge (keval-jnan). They orally
complied the direct preaching of Lord Mahavir into twelve main texts
(sutras). These texts are known as Ang-agams. Hence the Ang-agams are
the oldest religious scriptures and the back bone of Jain literature.
The twelfth Ang-agam is called Drastivad. The Drastivad consists of
fourteen Purva texts, also known as Purvas or Purva-agams. Among
Ang-agams, Purvas were the oldest sacred texts. All Jain sects believe
that knowledge of the Purvas (Drastivad) were gradually lost starting
two hundred years after Lord Mahavir's nirvan (death). However, the
subject matter of the Purvas has been referenced by other Jain
scriptures and literature.
The Digambar Jain sect also believes that the remaining eleven
Ang-agams were gradually lost. All Swetambar Jains believe that the
proper meaning and the original intent of the eleven Ang-agams survived
and were properly documented by elder monks one thousand years after
Lord Mahavir's nirvan.
||All are lost
Monks who had knowledge of a minimum of ten Purvas were known as
Srut-kevlis. The Srut-kevlis wrote many texts (sutras) expanding the
subject matter defined in the Ang-agams. Collectively these texts are
called Ang-bahya-agams meaning outside of Ang-agams.
The different Jain sects accept different numbers of Ang-bahya texts.
However the Digambar sect believes that they were also gradually lost
starting about two hundred years after Lord Mahavir's Nirvan.
||All are Lost
Classification of Ang-bahya-agams:
The Swetambar sect has divided Ang-bahya-agams into the following
The scriptures which provide further explanation of Ang-agams are
called Upang-agams. There are 12 Upang-agams accepted by all
The subject matter described in Chhed-sutras is only for monks and
nuns and not for lay people. It relates to the conduct and behavior
of monks and nuns. It also explains how they can repent for their
sins and mistakes. The Swetambar Murtipujak sect accepts 6 Chhed-sutra
texts but the Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi sects accept only 4 texts.
The scriptures which are essential for monks and nuns to study in
the earlier stages of their monkhood are called Mool-sutras. The
Swetambar Murtipujak sect accepts 4 Mool-sutras texts but the
Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi sects accept only 3 texts.
- Chulika-sutras or Sutras:
The scriptures which enhance or decorate the Ang-agams are known as
Chulika-sutras or Sutras. There are 2 Chulika-sutras accepted by all
The scriptures which describe independent or miscellaneous subjects
of the Jain religion are known as Prakirna-sutra. The Swetambar
Murtipujak sect accepts 10 Prakirna-agams texts but none are
accepted by the Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi sects.