Jain literature explained

Jain literature (Sanskrit: जैन साहित्य) 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 written in Ardhamagadhi, a Prakrit (Middle-Indo Aryan) language. Various commentaries were written on these canonical texts by later Jain monks. Later works were also written in other languages, like Sanskrit and Maharashtri Prakrit.

Jain literature is primarily divided between the canons of the Digambara and Śvētāmbara orders. These two main sects of Jainism do not always agree on which texts should be considered authoritative.

More recent Jain literature has also been written in other languages, like Marathi, Tamil, Rajasthani, Dhundari, Marwari, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam and more recently in English.

Beliefs

The Jain tradition believes that their religion is eternal(अनादि अनंत), and the teachings of the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha existed millions of years ago.

It states that the tirthankaras taught in divine preaching halls called samavasarana, which were heard by gods, ascetics and laypersons. These divine discourses were called Śhrut Jnāna (or heard knowledge) and always comprises eleven angas and fourteen purvas. The discourses are remembered and transmitted by the Ganadharas (chief disciples), and is composed of twelve angas (parts, limbs). It is symbolically represented by a tree with twelve branches. The spoken scriptural language is believed to be Ardhamagadhi by the Śvētāmbara Jains, and a form of divine sound or sonic resonance by the Digambara Jains.

According to the Jain tradition, the divine Śhrut Jnāna of a tirthankara is then converted into sutta (scripture) by his disciples, and from such suttas emerge the formal canons. The suttas are grouped into duvala samgagani pidaga (twelve limbed baskets), which are transmitted orally by the disciples. In every universal cycle of Jain cosmology, twenty-four tirthankaras appear and so do the Jain scriptures for that cycle.

History

Initially, the canonical scriptures were transmitted through an oral tradition and consisted of teachings of historical Jain leaders like Mahavira codified into various collections. Gautama and other Gandhars (the chief disciples of Mahavira) are said to have compiled the original sacred scriptures which were divided into twelve Angas or parts. They are referred to as the eleven Angas and the fourteen Pūrvas, since the twelfth Anga comprises fourteen Pūrvas. These scriptures are said to have contained the most comprehensive and accurate description of every branch of Jain learning. The Jain Agamas and their commentaries were composed mainly in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit as well as in Maharashtri Prakrit.

While some authors date the composition of the Jain Agamas starting from the 6th century BCE,[1] some western scholars, such as Ian Whicher and David Carpenter, argue that the earliest portions of Jain canonical works were composed around the 4th or 3rd century BCE.[2] [3] According to Johannes Bronkhorst it is extremely difficult to determine the age of the Jain Agamas, however:

Mainly on linguistic grounds, it has been argued that the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the Sūtrakṛtāṅga Sūtra, and the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra are among the oldest texts in the canon. This does not guarantee that they actually date from the time of Mahāvīra, nor even from the centuries immediately following his death, nor does it guarantee that all parts of these texts were composed simultaneously.[4]
Elsewhere, Bronkhorst states that the Sūtrakṛtāṅga "dates from the 2nd century BCE at the very earliest," based on how it references the Buddhist theory of momentariness, which is a later scholastic development.

During the reign of Chandragupta Maurya (c. 324 or 321 – c. 297 BCE), Āchārya Bhadrabahu, said to have been the last knower of the complete Jain agamas, was the head of Jain community. At this time, a long famine caused a crisis in the community, who found it difficult to keep the entire Jain canon committed to memory. Bhadrabahu decided to travel south to Karnataka with his adherents and Sthulabhadra, another Jain leader remained behind. The famine decimated the Jain community, leading to the loss of many canonical texts. According to Śvētāmbara ("white-clad") tradition, the agamas were collected on the basis of the collective memory of the ascetics in the first council of Pataliputra under the stewardship of Sthulibhadra in around to 463–367 BCE. During the council, eleven scriptures called Angas were compiled and the remnant of fourteen purvas were written down in a 12th Anga.[5] Another council was later organised in 2nd-century BCE in Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Kalinga (now in Odisha) during the reign of Kharavela.

The Śvētāmbara order considers these Jain Agamas as canonical works and sees them as being based on an authentic oral tradition. They consider their collection to represent a continuous tradition, though they accept that their collection is also incomplete because of a lost Anga text and four lost Purva texts.

However, these texts were rejected by the Digambara (lit. "sky-clad", i.e. naked) order, which hold that Āchārya Bhutabali (1st Century CE) was the last ascetic who had partial knowledge of the original canon. According to Digambaras, the Purvas and the original Agamas of Gautama were lost during the Mauryan period crisis and famine. This Digambara stance on the loss of the Agamas is one of the disagreements that led to the main schism in Jainism. Digambara masters proceeded to create new scriptures which contained the knowledge of the doctrine that had survived in their community. As such, Digambaras have a different set of canonical scriptures. According to von Glasenapp, the Digambara texts partially agree with the enumerations and works of older Śvētāmbara texts, but in many cases there are also major differences between the texts of the two major Jain traditions.

The Śvētāmbara Siddhāntha

In 453 or 466 CE, the Śvētāmbara order held another council at Vallabhi. The Śvētāmbaras recompiled the Agamas and recorded them as written manuscripts under the leadership of Acharya Shraman Devardhigani along with other 500 Jain scholars. The existing Śvētāmbara canons are based on the Vallabhi council texts.

From the 15th century onwards, various Śvetāmbara subsects began to disagree on the composition of the canon. Mūrtipūjaks ("idol-worshippers") accept 45 texts, while the Sthānakavāsins and Terāpanthins only accept 32.[6]

List of works

The canons (Siddhāntha) of the Śvētāmbaras are generally composed of the following texts:

Miscellaneous collections

To reach the number 45, Mūrtipūjak Śvētāmbara canons contain a "Miscellaneous" collection of supplementary texts, called the Paiṇṇaya suttas (Sanskrit: Prakīrnaka sūtras, "Miscellaneous"). This section varies in number depending on the individual sub-sect (from 10 texts to over 20). They also often included extra works (often of disputed authorship) named "supernumerary Prakīrṇakas".[7] The Paiṇṇaya texts are generally not considered to have the same kind of authority as the other works in the canon. Most of these works are in Jaina Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit, unlike the other Śvetāmbara scriptures which tend to be in Ardhamāgadhī. They are therefore most likely later works than the Aṅgas and Upāṅgas.[7]

Mūrtipūjak Jain canons will generally accept 10 Paiṇṇayas as canonical, but there is widespread disagreement on which 10 scriptures are given canonical status. The most widely accepted list of ten scriptures are the following:[7]

The Digambara Siddhāntha

According to the Digambara tradition, the original scriptures had been lost by about the 2nd century CE.[8] Āchārya Bhutabali is considered the last ascetic who had some partial knowledge of the original canon. Digambara tradition holds that Āchārya Dharasena (1st century CE), guided Āchārya Pushpadanta and Āchārya Bhutabali to write what remained of the lost teachings down into palm-leaf scriptures. These two Āchāryas wrote the Ṣaṭkhaṅḍāgama (Six Part Scripture), which is held to be one of the oldest Digambara texts. They are dated to between the 2nd to 3rd century CE. Around the same time, Āchārya Gunadhar wrote Kaşāyapāhuda (Treatise on the Passions).[9] These two texts are the two main Digambara Agamas.

The Digambara canon of scriptures includes these two main texts, three commentaries on the main texts, and four (later) Anuyogas (expositions), consisting of more than 20 texts.

The great commentator Virasena wrote two commentary texts on the Ṣaṭkhaṅḍāgama, the Dhaval‑tika on the first five volumes and Maha‑dhaval‑tika on the sixth volume of the Ṣaṭkhaṅḍāgama, around 780 CE. Virasena and his disciple, Jinasena, also wrote a commentary on the Kaşāyapāhuda, known as Jaya‑dhavala‑tika.

There is no agreement on the canonical Anuyogas ("Expositions"). The Anuyogas were written between the 2nd and the 11th centuries CE, either in Jaina Śaurasenī Prakrit or in Sanskrit.

The expositions (Anuyogas) are divided into four literary categories:

Post-Canonical literature

Doctrinal and philosophical works

There are various later Jain works that are considered post-canonical, that is to say, they were written after the closure of the Jain canons, though the different canons were closed at different historical eras, and so this category is ambiguous.

Thus, Umaswati's (c. between 2nd-century and 5th-century CE) Tattvarthasūtra ("On the Nature of Reality") is included in the Digambara canon, but not in the Śvētāmbara canons (though they do consider the work authoritative). Indeed, the Tattvarthasūtra is considered the authoritative Jain philosophy text by all traditions of Jainism. It has the same importance in Jainism as Vedanta Sūtras and Yogasūtras have in Hinduism.

Other non-canonical works include various texts attributed to Bhadrabahu which are called the Niryuktis and Samhitas.

According to Winternitz, after the 8th century or so, Svetambara Jain writers, who had previously worked in Prakrit, began to use Sanskrit. The Digambaras also adopted Sanskrit somewhat earlier. The earliest Jain works in Sanskrit include the writings of Siddhasēna Divākara, who wrote the Sanmatitarka ('The Logic of the True Doctrine') is the first major Jain work on logic written in Sanskrit.[10]

Other later works and writers include:

Grammar

Jainendra-vyakarana of Acharya Pujyapada and Sakatayana-vyakarana of Sakatayana are both works on grammar written in .

Siddha-Hem-Shabdanushasana" by Acharya Hemachandra is considered by F. Kielhorn as the best grammar work of the Indian middle age. Hemacandra's book Kumarapalacaritra is also noteworthy.

Narrative literature and poetry

Jaina narrative literature mainly contains stories about sixty-three prominent figures known as Salakapurusa, and people who were related to them. Some of the important works are Harivamshapurana of Jinasena, Vikramarjuna-Vijaya (also known as Pampa-Bharata) of Kannada poet named Adi Pampa, Pandavapurana of Shubhachandra .

Mathematics

Jain literature covered multiple topics of mathematics around 150 AD including the theory of numbers, arithmetical operations, geometry, operations with fractions, simple equations, cubic equations, bi-quadric equations, permutations, combinations and logarithms.

Languages

Jains literature exists mainly in Jain Prakrit, Sanskrit, Marathi, Tamil, Rajasthani, Dhundari, Marwari, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu[11] and more recently in English.

Jains have contributed to India's classical and popular literature. For example, almost all early Kannada literature and many Tamil works were written by Jains. Some of the oldest known books in Hindi and Gujarati were written by Jain scholars.

The first autobiography in the ancestor of Hindi, Braj Bhasha, is called Ardhakathānaka and was written by a Jain, Banarasidasa, an ardent follower of Acarya Kundakunda who lived in Agra. Many Tamil classics are written by Jains or with Jain beliefs and values as the core subject. Practically all the known texts in the Apabhramsha language are Jain works.

The oldest Jain literature is in Shauraseni and the Jain Prakrit (the Jain Agamas, Agama-Tulya, the Siddhanta texts, etc.). Many classical texts are in Sanskrit (Tattvartha Sutra, Puranas, Kosh, Sravakacara, mathematics, Nighantus etc.). "Abhidhana Rajendra Kosha" written by Acharya Rajendrasuri, is only one available Jain encyclopedia or Jain dictionary to understand the Jain Prakrit, Ardha-Magadhi and other languages, words, their use and references within oldest Jain literature.

Jain literature was written in Apabhraṃśa (Kahas, rasas, and grammars), Standard Hindi (Chhahadhala, Moksh Marg Prakashak, and others), Tamil (Nālaṭiyār, Civaka Cintamani, Valayapathi, and others), and Kannada (Vaddaradhane and various other texts). Jain versions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are found in Sanskrit, the Prakrits, Apabhraṃśa and Kannada.

Jain Prakrit is a term loosely used for the language of the Jain Agamas (canonical texts). The books of Jainism were written in the popular vernacular dialects (as opposed to Sanskrit), and therefore encompass a number of related dialects. Chief among these is Ardha Magadhi, which due to its extensive use has also come to be identified as the definitive form of Prakrit. Other dialects include versions of Maharashtri and Sauraseni.

Influence on Indian literature

Parts of the Sangam literature in Tamil are attributed to Jains. The authenticity and interpolations are controversial because it presents Hindu ideas. Some scholars state that the Jain portions were added about or after the 8th century CE, and are not ancient. Tamil Jain texts such as the Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi and Nālaṭiyār are credited to Digambara Jain authors. These texts have seen interpolations and revisions. For example, it is generally accepted now that the Jain nun Kanti inserted a 445-verse poem into Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi in the 12th century. The Tamil Jain literature, according to Dundas, has been "lovingly studied and commented upon for centuries by Hindus as well as Jains". The themes of two of the Tamil epics, including the Silapadikkaram, have an embedded influence of Jainism.

Jain scholars also contributed to Kannada literature. The Digambara Jain texts in Karnataka are unusual in having been written under the patronage of kings and regional aristocrats. They describe warrior violence and martial valor as equivalent to a "fully committed Jain ascetic", setting aside Jainism's absolute non-violence.

Jain manuscript libraries called bhandaras inside Jain temples are the oldest surviving in India. Jain libraries, including the Śvētāmbara collections at Patan, Gujarat and Jaiselmer, Rajasthan, and the Digambara collections in Karnataka temples, have a large number of well-preserved manuscripts. These include Jain literature and Hindu and Buddhist texts. Almost all have been dated to about, or after, the 11th century CE. The largest and most valuable libraries are found in the Thar Desert, hidden in the underground vaults of Jain temples. These collections have witnessed insect damage, and only a small portion have been published and studied by scholars.

List of Jain texts

Digambara texts

  1. Shatkhandagama — Acharya Pushpadant, Acharya Bhutabali
  2. Samaysar — Acharya Kundkund
  3. Niyamasara — Acharya Kundkund
  4. Pravachansara — Acharya Kundkund
  5. Ashtapahud — Acharya Kundkund
  6. Panchastikaya — Acharya Kundkund
  7. Rayansara — Acharya Kundkund
  8. Dash Bhakti — Acharya Kundkund
  9. Varsanuvekkha — Acharya Kundkund
  10. Tattvartha Sutra — Acharya Umaswami
  11. Aptamimansa — Acharya Samantabhadra
  12. Swayambhu Stotra — Acharya Samantabhadra
  13. Ratnakaranda Sravakachar — Acharya Samantabhadra
  14. Stuti Vidya — Acharya Samantabhadra
  15. Yuktyanushasana — Acharya Samantabhadra
  16. Tattvasara — Acharya Devsena
  17. Aradhana Saar — Acharya Devsen
  18. Aalap Paddhati — Acharya Devsen
  19. Darshansara — Acharya Devsena
  20. Bhavasangrah — Acharya Devsen
  21. Laghu Nayachakra — Acharya Devsen
  22. Ishtopadesh — Acharya Pujyapad (Devanandi)
  23. Samadhi Tantra — Acharya Pujyapada (Devanandi)
  24. Sarvarthasiddhi — Acharya Pujyapad (Devanandi)
  25. Vaidyaka Shastra — Acharya Pujyapada (Devanandi)
  26. Siddhipriya Stotra — Acharya Pujyapad (Devanandi)
  27. Jainendra Vyakaran — Acharya Pujyapada (Devanandi)
  28. Paramatma Prakash — Acharya Yogindu Dev
  29. Yogasara — Acharya Yogindu Dev
  30. Naukar Shravakacharya — Acharya Yogindu Dev
  31. Tattvartha Tika — Acharya Yogindu Dev
  32. Amritashiti — Acharya Yogindu Dev
  33. Subhashit Tantra — Acharya Yogindu Dev
  34. Adhyatma Sandoha — Acharya Yogindu Dev
  35. Sanmati Sutra — Acharya Siddhasena Divakar
  36. Kalyan Mandir — Acharya Siddhasen Diwakar
  37. Ashtashati — Acharya Akalankadeva
  38. Laghiyastraya — Acharya Akalankadeva
  39. Nyayavinischaya Savrtti — Acharya Akalankadeva
  40. Siddhivinischaya Savrtti — Acharya Akalankadeva
  41. Praman Sangrah Savritti — Acharya Akalankdev
  42. Tattvartha Rajavartika — Acharya Akalankadeva
  43. Harivansh Purana — Acharya Jinsen (first)
  44. Adi Purana — Acharya Jinsen
  45. Uttarpuran — Acharya Gunbhadra
  46. Aatmanushasan — Acharya Gunbhadra
  47. Ashtasahastri — Acharya Vidyananda
  48. Sloka Vartika — Acharya Vidyananda
  49. Aaptpareeksha — Acharya Vidyananda
  50. Pramanpareeksha — Acharya Vidyananda
  51. Patra Pareeksha — Acharya Vidyanand
  52. Kshatriyachudamani — Acharya Vadibhasingh Suri
  53. Gadyachintamani — Acharya Vadibhasingh Suri
  54. Kartikeya Anupreksha — Acharya Kartikeya Swami
  55. Tattvarthasara — Acharya Amritchand
  56. PurusharthasiddhiUpaya — Acharya Amritchandra
  57. Atmakhyati Tika — Acharya Amritchandra
  58. Laghutatvasphot — Acharya Amritchandra
  59. Tattvapradipika Tika — Acharya Amritchandra
  60. Varang Charitra — Shri Jata Singh Nandi
  61. Chandraprabha Charitra — Acharya Veeranandi
  62. Kashay Pahud — Acharya Gundhar
  63. Gommatasara — Acharya Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti
  64. Pashanahchariu — Sage Padmakirti
  65. Triloksara — Acharya Nemichandran Siddhant Chakraborty
  66. Labdhisar — Acharya Nemichandran Siddhant Chakraborty
  67. Kshapanasar — Acharya Nemichandran Siddhant Chakraborty
  68. Tiloyapannatti — Acharya Yativrishabha
  69. Jambudvipa Pannatti — Acharya Yativrishabha
  70. Dhawala Tika — Acharya Veersen
  71. Yashstilak Champu — Acharya Somdev
  72. Nitivakyamrit — Acharya Somdev
  73. Adhyatmatarangini — Acharya Somdev
  74. Siddhivinischaya Tika — Brihad Anantavirya
  75. Pramanasamgrahabhashya — Brihad Anantavirya
  76. Shaktayana Shabdanushasana — Acharya Shaktayana
  77. Kevali Bhukti — Acharya Shaktayana
  78. Laghu Dravya Sangrah — Acharya Nemichand
  79. Vihad Dravya Sangrah — Acharya Nemichandra
  80. Prameya-Kamal-Martand — Acharya Prabhachandra
  81. Nyay Kumudchandra — Acharya Prabhachandra
  82. Tattvartha-vrittipada-vivaranam — Acharya Prabhachandra
  83. Shaktayan-Nyas — Acharya Prabhachandra
  84. Shabdambhoj Bhaskar — Acharya Prabhachandra
  85. Gadyakathakosh — Acharya Prabhachandra
  86. Pradyumnacharitra — Acharya Mahasena
  87. Bhaktamar Strotra — Acharya Mantung
  88. Padmanandi Panchavinshatika — Acharya Padmanandi (II)
  89. Mulachara — Swami of Acharya Vattaker
  90. Gyanarnav — Shubhachandracharya ji
  91. Bhagavati Aradhana — Acharya Shivarya (Shivkoti)
  92. Amitgati Sravakacharya — Acharya Amitgati
  93. Dharma Pariksha — Acharya Amitgati
  94. Subhashit Ratna Sandoh — Acharya Amitgati
  95. Tattva Bhavana — Acharya Amitgati
  96. Panch Sangrah — Acharya Amitgati
  97. Bhavana Dvatrinshatika — Acharya Amitgati
  98. Niyamasara Tika — Acharya Padmaprabhamaladharideva
  99. Parsvnath Stotra — Acharya Padmaprabhamaladharideva
  100. Dharmaamrita — Acharya Nayasena
  101. Samayasaratatparyavrttitika — Acharya Jayasena (II)
  102. Niyamasaratatparyavrttitika — Acharya Jayasena (II)
  103. Panchastikayatatparyavrttitika — Acharya Jayasena (II)
  104. Tattvanushasana — Acharya Ramsen
  105. Prameyaratnamala — Acharya Laghu Anantavirya
  106. Siddhantsaar — Acharya Narendrasen
  107. Parīkşāmukha[12] — Acharya Māņikyanandi
  108. Nyayadipika — Acharya Dharmabhushan Yeti
  109. Dravya Prakash Nayachakra — Acharya Mayil Dhawal
  110. Padma Purana — Acharya Ravishena
  111. Mulachara — Swami Acharya Vattaker
  112. Ganitasar Sangrah — Acharya Mahavir
  113. Shripal Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  114. Shantinath Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  115. Vardhaman Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  116. Mallinath Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  117. Yashodhar Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  118. Dhanyakumar Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  119. Sukmal Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  120. Sudarshan Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  121. Jambuswamy Charitra — Acharya Sakalkirti
  122. Mulachar Pradeep — Acharya Sakalkirti
  123. Parsvnath Purana — Acharya Sakalkirti
  124. Siddhantasar Deepak — Acharya Sakalkirti
  125. Tattvarthasara Deepak — Acharya Sakalkirti
  126. Agamasara — Acharya Sakalkirti
  127. Meru Mandir Purana — Sri Vamana Muni Ji
  128. Praman Granth — Acharya Vajranandi
  129. Chaubisi Purana — Acharya Shubhachandra
  130. Shrenik Charitra — Acharya Shubhachandra
  131. Sri Pandava Purana — Acharya Shubhachandra
  132. Sri Shrenik Charitra — Acharya Shubhachandra
  133. Chandraprabha Charitra — Acharya Shubhachandra
  134. Karakandu Charitra — Acharya Shubhachandra
  135. Chandana Charitra — Acharya Shubhchandra
  136. Jivandhar Charitr — Acharya Shubhachandra
  137. Adhyatmatarangini — Acharya Shubhachandra
  138. Prakrit Lakshan — Acharya Shubhachandra
  139. Ganitasar Sangrah — Acharya Sridhar
  140. Trilokasaratika — Acharya Madhavachand
  141. Yogasara Praabhrit — Acharya Amitgati
  142. Brihatkathakosha — Acharya Harisena
  143. Aradhanasar — Acharya Ravibhadra
  144. Acharsar — Acharya Veeranandi
  145. Vardhaman Charitra — Acharya Asag
  146. Sudansana Chariu — Acharya Nayanandi
  147. Ekibhav Stotra — Acharya Vadiraj
  148. Puransar collection — Acharya Srichand
  149. Vasunandi Sravakacharya — Acharya Vasunandi
  150. Bhavana Paddhati — Acharya Padmanandi
  151. Angar Dharmaamrita — Pandit Ashadhar
  152. Sagar Dharmamrit — Pandit Ashadhar
  153. Bharatesh Vaibhav — Mahakavi Ratnakar ji
  154. Samaysar Natak — Pandit Banarsidas
  155. Brahma Vilas — Bhaiya Bhagwatidas
  156. Chhadhala — Pandit Dyantarai
  157. Kriya Kosh — Pandit Daulatram (first)
  158. Bhav Deepika — Pandit Deepchand
  159. Chid Vilas — Pandit Deepchand
  160. Parshva Purana — Pandit Bhudhardas
  161. Jin Shatak — Pandit Bhudhardas
  162. Mokshamarg Prakashak — Pandit Todermal
  163. Gommatasara Tika — Pandit Todarmal
  164. Labdhisar Tika — Pandit Todermal
  165. Kshapanasar Tika — Pandit Todermal
  166. Triloksar Tika — Pandit Todermal
  167. ?
  168. Purusharthsiddhiupayetika — Pandit Todermal
  169. Jain Siddhanta Praveshika — Pandit Gopaldasji Baraiya
  170. Chhadhala — Pt. Daulatramji (II)
  171. Ratnakaranda Vachanika — Pt. Sadasukhdas
  172. Samaysar Vachanika — Pt. Jaichand Chavda
  173. Chhadhala — Pandit Budhajan
  174. Mahavirashtak Stotra — Pandit Bhagchand
  175. Jainendra Siddhanta Kosha — Kshullaka Jinendra Varn

Shvetambara texts

Agamas are the main scriptures followed by Jains as preached by Tirthankars. Both Shwetambar and Digambar sects believe in 12 Agamas. Both also believe that the 12th Agama Drishtivaad (Dṛṣṭivāda) was lost over a period of time and realised the need to turn the oral tradition to written. While Digambaras believed that all the 12 Agamas were lost, Shwetambars believed that the first 11 Agamas were not lost. They compiled them in written format in the 6th century CE in Vallabhi, Gujarat. The list is as follows.

Agamas

There are 45 Agamas (11 Angā Agamas and 34 Angā Bahya Agamas).

11 Angā Agamas
  1. Āyāraṃga (Sanskrit: Ācāranga, meaning: 'On monastic conduct')
  2. Sūyagaḍa (Sūtrakṛtānga, 'On heretical systems and views')
  3. Ṭhāṇaṃga (Sthānānga, 'On different points [of the teaching]')
  4. Samavāyaṃga (Samavāyānga, 'On rising numerical groups')
  5. Viyāha-pannatti / Bhagavaī (Vyākhyā-prajñapti or Bhagavatī, 'Exposition of explanations' or 'the holy one')
  6. Nāyā-dhamma-kahāo (Jñāta-dharmakathānga, 'Parables and religious stories')
  7. Uvāsaga-dasāo (Upāsaka-daśāḥ, 'Ten chapters on the Jain lay follower')
  8. Aṇuttarovavāiya-dasāo (Antakṛd-daśāḥ, 'Ten chapters on those who put an end to rebirth in this very life')
  9. Anuttaraupapātikadaśāh (Anuttaropapātika-daśāḥ, 'Ten chapters on those who were reborn in the uppermost heavens')
  10. Paṇha-vāgaraṇa (Praśna-vyākaraṇa, 'Questions and explanations')
  11. Vivāga-suya (Vipākaśruta, 'Bad or good results of deeds performed')
34 Anga Bahya Agamas

The 34 Anga Bahya Agamas consist of 12 Upānga Agamas, 6 Cheda sūtras, 6 Mūla sūtras, and 10 Paiṇṇaya sutras.

Upānga Agamas

  1. Uvavāiya-sutta (Sanskrit: Aupapātika-sūtra, 'Places of rebirth')
  2. Rāya-paseṇaijja or Rāyapaseṇiya (Rāja-praśnīya, 'Questions of the king')
  3. Jīvājīvābhigama (Jīvājīvābhigama, 'Classification of animate and inanimate entities')
  4. Pannavaṇā (Prajñāpanā, 'Enunciation on topics of philosophy and ethics')
  5. Sūriya-pannatti (Sūrya-prajñapti, 'Exposition on the sun')
  6. Jambūdvīpa-pannatti (Jambūdvīpa-prajñapti, 'Exposition on the Jambū continent and the Jain universe')
  7. Canda-pannatti (Candra-prajñapti, 'Exposition on the moon and the Jain universe')
  8. Nirayāvaliyāo or Kappiya (Narakāvalikā, 'Series of stories on characters reborn in hells')
  9. Kappāvaḍaṃsiāo (Kalpāvataṃsikāḥ, 'Series of stories on characters reborn in the kalpa heavens')
  10. Pupphiāo (Puṣpikāḥ, 'Flowers' refers to one of the stories')
  11. Puppha-cūliāo (Puṣpa-cūlikāḥ, 'The nun Puṣpacūlā')
  12. Vaṇhi-dasāo (Vṛṣṇi-daśāh, 'Stories on characters from the legendary dynasty known as Andhaka-Vṛṣṇi')

Cheda sūtras (texts relating to the conduct and behaviour of monks and nuns)

  1. Āyāra-dasāo (Sanskrit: Ācāradaśāh, 'Ten [chapters] about monastic conduct', chapter 8 is the famed Kalpa-sūtra)
  2. Bihā Kappa (Bṛhat Kalpa, '[Great] Religious code')
  3. Vavahāra (Vyavahāra, 'Procedure')
  4. Nisīha (Niśītha, 'Interdictions')
  5. Jīya-kappa (Jīta-kalpa, Customary rules)
  6. Mahā-nisīha (Mahā-niśītha, Large Niśītha)

Mūla sūtras ('Fundamental texts' which are foundational works studied by new monastics)

  1. Dasaveyāliya-sutta (Sanskrit: Daśavaikālika-sūtra), this is memorized by all new Jain mendicants
  2. Uttarajjhayaṇa-sutta (Uttarādhyayana-sūtra)
  3. Āvassaya-sutta (Āvaśyaka-sūtra)
  4. Piṇḍa-nijjutti and Ogha-nijjutti (Piṇḍa-niryukti and Ogha-niryukti), Cūlikasūtras ("appendixes")
  5. Nandī-sūtra – discusses the five types of knowledge
  6. Anuyogadvāra-sūtra – a technical treatise on analytical methods, discusses Anekantavada

Paiṇṇaya sutras (Sanskrit: Prakīrnaka sūtras, "Miscellaneous")

  1. Cau-saraṇa (Sanskrit: Catuḥśaraṇa, The 'four refuges')
  2. Āura-paccakkhāṇa (Ātura-pratyākhyāna, 'Sick man's renunciation')
  3. Bhatta-parinnā (Bhakta-parijñā,'Renunciation of food')
  4. Saṃthāraga (Saṃstāraka, 'Straw bed')
  5. Tandula-veyāliya (Taṇḍula-vaicārika,'Reflection on rice grains')
  6. Canda-vejjhaya (Candravedhyaka, 'Hitting the mark')
  7. Devinda-tthaya (Devendra-stava, 'Praise of the kings of gods')
  8. Gaṇi-vijjā (Gaṇi-vidyā,'A Gaṇi's knowledge')
  9. Mahā-paccakkhāṇa (Mahā-pratyākhyāna,'Great renunciation')
  10. Vīra-tthava (Vīra-stava,'Great renunciation')

Major scriptures by acharyas

Major scriptures by Acharya Umaswati (1st–2nd Century AD)

  1. Tattvartha Sutra (On the Nature [artha] of Reality [tattva])
  2. Prasamarati (guide for the aspirant on the path of peace and liberation from karmic bondage)

Major scriptures by Acharya Vimalsuri (3rd Century AD)

  1. Paumchariya (Jain Ramayan)

Major scriptures by Acharya Haribhadrasuri (8th Century AD)

  1. Anekāntajayapatākā [The Victory Banner of Anekantavada (Relativism)] – which puts forward arguments about Anekantavada
  2. Anekāntavādapraveśa, discusses Jain Philosophy
  3. Anekāntasiddhi – establishes the concept of non-absolutism (anekānta)
  4. Ātmasiddhi (Realization of Self), a work about the Soul
  5. Upadeśapada, collection of stories which depicts how difficult it is to secure a human birth
  6. Daṃsaṇasuddhi, text deals with Samyagdarśana (right faith) and its purity
  7. Darisaṇasattari, another work on Samyagdarśana
  8. Dhammasangahaṇi, work on Dharma
  9. Lokatattvanirṇaya, a work of comparative religion where he talks about Hindu Gods
  10. Saṃsāradāvānalastuti, a work praising Thirtankaras
  11. Samarāiccakahā, a collection of stories
  12. Sambohapayaraṇa, a work on philosophy
  13. Ashtakaprakarana (The Eightfold Explanation)
  14. Dharmabindu – which outlines the duties of the laity, outlines rules for mendicants, and describes the bliss of moksha
  15. Dhūrtākhyāna (The Rogue's Stories)
  16. Pañcāśaka – a Prakrit work on rituals and spiritual matters
  17. Ṣaḍdarśanasamuccaya (Compendium of Six Philosophies) – which compares Jainism with other schools of Indian philosophy
  18. Samarāiccakahā (The Story of Samarāicca) – a narrative which outlines the effects of karma in a story about the enmity of its characters which endures over several reincarnations
  19. Sāstravārtāsamuccaya (The Array of Explanatory Teachings
  20. Yogabindu (The Seeds of Yoga) – a work on yoga
  21. Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya (An Array of Views on Yoga) – another work on yoga
  22. Yogaśataka – a third work on yoga. In these three volumes, he compares the yoga of Jainism with the other varieties of yoga prevalent in India at the time.
  23. Sanmatti Prakaran

Major scriptures by Kalikalsarvagna Acharya Hemachandra (12th Century AD)

  1. Trishashti-shalaka-purusha-charita ("Deeds of the 63 Illustrious Men")
  2. Pariśiṣṭaparvan (Sthaviravali)
  3. Siddha-Hema-Śabdanuśāśana (grammar)
  4. Abhidhan-Chintamani (lexicon)
  5. Arhanniti, a work on politics from a Jain perspective
  6. Kavyanuprakasha
  7. Chandonushasana (a work on prosody)
  8. Alankara Chudamani
  9. Pramana-mimansa (logic)
  10. Vitaraga-Stotra (prayers)

Major scriptures by Acharya Ratnashekharsuri (15th Century AD)

  1. Siri-Sirivala-Kaha
  2. Shraddh Vidhi Prakaran

Major scriptures by Acharya Yashovijayasuri (17th Century AD)

  1. Ashtasahasri Tatparyavivarana Tika
  2. Adhyatmasara
  3. Adhyatmopanisatprakarana
  4. Dharmapariksa
  5. Jaina Nyayakhandakhadya
  6. Jaina Tarkabhasa
  7. Jnanasara
  8. Commentary on Jnanarnava
  9. Shripal raja no Ras

Others

Texts claimed by both the sects

Other texts

See also

References

Sources

Further reading

Jain texts

Bibliography of Sanskrit and Prakrit Jain texts (primary sources), from Dundas (2002):

A Jaina Text of Early Period, ed. W. Schubring, Ahmedabad, 1974.

Part 1, ed. Muni Puṇyavijaya and Amritlal Mohanlal Bhojak (Jaina Āgama Series 17.1), Bombay, 1984.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Nagendra Kr. Singh. (2001). Encyclopedia of Jainism (Edited by Nagendra Kr. Singh). New Delhi: Anmol Publications. page 4308
  2. Yoga: The Indian Tradition. Edited by Ian Whicher and David Carpenter. London: Routledgecurzon, 2003. page 64
  3. C. Chappie (1993) Nonviolence to Animals, Earth and Self in Asian Traditions. Albany: State University of New York Press. page 5
  4. Encyclopedia: Bronkhorst . Johannes . The Formative Period of Jainism (c. 500 BCE – 200 CE) . Brill's Encyclopedia of Jainism Online . Denison University University of Edinburgh University of Bergen University of California, Berkeley John E. Cort, Paul Dundas, Knut A. Jacobsen, Kristi L. Wiley . 10.1163/2590-2768_BEJO_COM_047082. en.
  5. Book: Jacobi, Hermann. The Ācāranga Sūtra. The Clarendon Press. 1884. 0-7007-1538-X. F. Max Müller. Max Müller. Sacred Books of the East vol.22, Part 1. Oxford. en. Hermann Jacobi. p. xlii
  6. Web site: Balbir. Nalini. Śvetāmbara canon. JAINpedia.
  7. Web site: Balbir. Nalini. Prakīrṇaka-sūtras. JAINpedia.
  8. Web site: Balbir. Nalini. Digambara canon. JAINpedia.
  9. Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey (1998) Jainism in a Global Perspective p. 239. Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago. Parshwanath Vidyapith Pubs.
  10. Qvarnström, Olle; Jainism and Early Buddhism: Essays in Honor of Padmanabh S. Jaini, page 154.
  11. Book: Banerjee, Satya Ranjan. Prolegomena to Prakritica et Jainica. The Asiatic Society. 2005. 61.
  12. Book: Jain, Vijay K.. Ācārya Māņikyanandi’s Parīkşāmukha Sūtra – आचार्य माणिक्यनन्दि विरचित परीक्षामुख सूत्र. Vikalp Printers. Dehradun. 2021. 978-81-932726-9-5.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jain literature".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.