Jains have always had a thriving canonical literary activity. These writings are mostly theological and philosophical treatises, saint stories, pedagogical works, and Tirthankara laudations. The basic religious characteristic is also prominent in works with mundane substance, such as science books, poetry, and works of narrative fiction. This also applies to plays and inscriptions. This article will explain to you the Canonical Literature which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Canonical Literature

• The Agamas are the canonical writings - the scriptures - of Svetambara Jainism, and they include Mahavira's teachings.
• Mahavira's students gathered his words into writings, or sutras, and memorised them in order to pass them on to future generations.
• The passages had to be memorised since Jain monks and nuns were not allowed to own religious books or write as part of their vow of non-acquisition.
• After Mahavira, Jain doctrine evolved through the teachings of highly knowledgeable monks; these teachings, too, had to be memorised, and therefore the quantity that the monks had to recall progressively increased.
• Swetambara canon is written in Lord Mahavira's native language.
• The Digambara sect utilised a Prakrita in their metrical compositions, which is consistent with the later Swetambara canon.

Canonical Literature - Language

• Jains have used languages from all three phases; nevertheless, the first Jaina-works are not written in Sanskrit, as one might anticipate, in the old Indian, Sanskrit, but in Prakrita.
• The language employed in the Jain canon demonstrates just the final specified attribute, i.e., only half of the particular traits of Magadhi; it is hence known as "Ardha-Magadhi," or "Half-Magadhi."
• All Jain writings believe that Mahavira preached in this language, which is a variety of the true "Magadhi" is Ardha-Magadhi, which is a linguistic hybrid.
• It is mostly composed of Magadhi, although it also incorporates components of other dialects.

Jain Agamas - Canonical Literature

• They are sacred writings that contain the Jain tirthankaras' teachings.
• The Gandharas, Mahavira's direct students, are claimed to have assembled them originally.
• These scriptures have special meaning for Svetambaras.
• The contemporary Angas are claimed to have been re-compiled in the mid-5th century AD during a meeting of Svetambaras sect monks in Vallabhi (Gujarat).
• The Digambara sect opposes the legitimacy of the Agamas collected at Valabhi, believing that the original teachings were lost long ago.
• Agamas was composed of 46 texts. There are twelve Angas, twelve Upangas, ten Prakirnakas, four Mulasutras, six Chedasutras, and two Chulika Sutras.
• They were written in the Prakrit dialect of Ardha-Magadhi.
• The Angas preach respect for all kinds of life, as well as vegetarianism, asceticism, compassion, and nonviolence.
• Agam literature is also classified into two categories:
  • Ang-agama
  • Ang-bahya-agams (outside of Ang-agams)
• Ang-agama: These texts include Lord Mahavir's direct teaching. Ganadharas put them together.
• Ganadhara were Lord Mahavir's direct followers. All Ganadharas had complete wisdom (keval-gyan).
• They orally condensed Lord Mahavir's direct preaching into twelve key manuscripts (sutras). These manuscripts are referred to as Ang-agams.
• Ang-bahya-agams (other than Ang-agams): These passages are Ang-agam expansions. Shruta Kevali put them together.
• Monks who knew at least 10 Purvas were referred to as Shrutakevalin.
• Shruta Kevali composed several books (sutras) that expanded on the topic matter described in the Ang-agams.
• These manuscripts are known as Ang-bahya-agams, which means "outside of Ang-agams."
• Drastivad is the name of the eleventh Ang-agam. The Drastivad is made up of fourteen Purva scriptures, which are also known as Purvas or Purva-agams.
• Purvas were the oldest sacred scriptures among the Ang-agams.
• The first of the eleven (or twelve) Anga Agamas is the Acharanga Sutra. It was the first scripture that the Jain monks examined.
• This agam explains the austere life's conduct and behaviour, as well as Lord Mahavir's penance.
• From a linguistic standpoint, this is the earliest agam. It was written in the Ardhamagadhi Prakrit language.
• Bhadrabahu wrote the Kalpa Sutra. It includes biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, most notably Parshvanath and Mahavira, as well as Nirvana.

Mahavira attains kevala jnana. from Kalpasutra series

Conclusion

Following Mahavira, Jain philosophy flourished through the teachings of highly informed monks; these teachings, too, had to be memorised, and therefore the quantity that the monks had to recollect grew steadily. Jains have long had an active canonical literary tradition. The majority of these publications are theological and philosophical treatises, saint tales, pedagogical works, and Tirthankara laudations.