The literature of the Jain religion is referred to as Jain literature. It is a huge and old literary legacy that was originally passed down orally. The canonical Jain Agamas, written in Ardhamagadhi, a Prakrit (Middle-Indo Aryan) language, comprise the earliest extant content. Later Jain monks wrote many interpretations on these canonical texts. This article will explain to you the Literature of Jain Religion which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil Service Exam.

Literature of Jainism

• Jain Literature was composed in a number of languages other than Prakrit and Ardha Magadhi, depending on the era, area, and patrons that sponsored it.
• They wrote in Tamil during the Sangam Age in south India. Among other languages, they wrote in Sanskrit, Shauraseni, Gujarati, and Marathi.
• The Jain sacred literature has been preserved orally from Mahavira's time.
• From time to time, the Jain council carefully organises this literature.
• The earliest systematisation of Jain canonical literature happened at a council in Pataliputra (Patna) towards the end of the 4th century B.C., followed by two further councils in Mathura and Valabhi in the early 3rd century B.C.
• The fourth and last Jain council met at Valabhi in 454 or 467 A.D.
• The Jain religion is eternal, according to the Jain tradition, and the teachings of the first Tirthankara Rishabhanatha existed millions of years ago.
• According to the text, the tirthankaras preached in divine preaching halls known as samavasarana, which were attended by gods, ascetics, and laypeople.

Literature of Jainism - Types

• Agam canonical or religious books known as Jain Agamas or Agam and non-canonical literary works are the two primary categories of Jain literature.
• Agam literature consists of several works that are sacred scriptures in the Jain faith. They are written in the Ardha-magadhi Prakrit language.
• Non-agam literature consists of comments and explanations on Agam literature, as well as separate works gathered by ascetics and intellectuals.
• They are written in Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsa, Old Marathi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu, among other languages.

Agam 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.
• They recognise two works in Prakrit: Puspandanta and Bhutan Balin's Karma Prabhat chapters on Karman, and Gunudhara's Kasayaprabharta chapters.
• 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.
• The following are the names of the twelve Angas:
  • Samavayanga
  • Jnatrdharmakathah
  • Antakrddaasah
  • Vyakhyaprajnapti or Bhagavati sutra
  • Sutrakrtanga
  • Anuttaraupapatikadaśāh
  • Upasakadasah
  • Vipakasruta
  • Drstivada
  • Acaranga sutra
  • Prasnavyakaranani
  • Sthananga
• The writings of the Digambara and Svetambara orders constitute the majority of Jain literature.
• These two major Jainism factions do not always agree on which texts are authoritative.

Digambara Literature

• Digambaras claims that all of the ancient texts were lost as early as the second century CE.
• As a result, while they occasionally quote works from the Svetambara canon, they do not regard them as genuine. The Digambara canon, or Siddhanta – 'doctrine,' is instead based on two more early publications.
• The Digambara canon, or siddhanta, contains a number of texts. The only surviving Purvas are assumed to be two written in the second and third century.
• The remainder of the canon consists of following writings known as Anuyogas or 'Expositions,' which are classified into four categories.
• The Anuyoga texts can be categorised in a variety of ways, with some being assigned to one class and some to another based on the criteria used, therefore their number and location are not universally agreed upon.
• Digambara scriptures, like Svetambara sacred writings, are written in Prakrit and have been the subject of commentaries almost from their inception.
• According to legend, the first Digambara book was based on one of the Purvas, a little section of which was recalled by the monk Dharasena in the second century CE.

Svetambara Literature

• The Kalpa Sutra is the most important religious scripture in the eyes of a regular Svetambara layperson.
• In its current form, the Kalpa Sutra is also the first Shvetambara sect scripture to be rejected by the Digmabaras.
• According to Svetambara, Mahavira's first teaching was 'open,' an idea that the Prakrit term pavayana connected to in certain early scriptures might indicate.
• This term signified the use of Prakrit as opposed to Sanskrit, which was associated with the brahmin elite.
• The Agamas are therefore written in Ardha Magadhi Prakrit.
• The canonical books of the Svetambaras are known as the Angas, Upangas.
• In the nearly ten centuries between Mahavira's death and the Vallabhi Council, many academics provided commentary on these Angas, Upangas, and other literature.
• These statements are known as Nijutis or Niryuktis. All of these observations would be considered Shvetambara literature.

Literature of Jainism - Other notable works

• Bhadrabahu (3rd century BC) was a prominent Jain monk and the tutor of Chandragupta Maurya.
• He was the author of the revered Uvasaggaharam Stotra and the Kalpa Sutra (Biographies of Jain Tirthankars).
• He founded the Digambara sect.
• Acharya Kundkund's Samayasara and Niyamasara explain Jain philosophy.
• Samanta Bhadra composed Ratna Karanda Sravakachara (Life of a Jaina householder) and Aptamimansa in the second century AD.
• Silappadikaram, one of the finest epics of Tamil literature authored by Ilango Adigal in the second century AD, is a moralistic discourse.
• Tirutakkatevar's Civaka Cintamani is another epic in Tamil literature.
• Nalatiyar, an ancient Tamil literature, was written by Jain monks.
• Umasvati's Tattvartha-sutra (1st–2nd century AD) is a notable Jain treatise on logic, epistemology, ethics, and astronomy written in Sanskrit.
• Between the eighth and ninth centuries, Jinasena was a Digamabara monk. He was the author of the Maha Purana and the Harivamsa Purana.
• He was a pupil of Virasena, another well-known Jain monk.
• Haribhadra Suri, a Jain author from the sixth century AD, wrote in Sanskrit.
• Hemachandra Suri (12th century) was a notable scholar who created grammars of Sanskrit and Prakrit.
• For Jains, the universities of Valabhi and Kalinga were prominent centres of study.
• Between the 9th and 12th centuries, Jain monks wrote extensively in Kannada. Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna are three Kannada literary treasures related to Jainism.

Conclusion

Jain literature refers to the literature of the Jain faith. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition that was initially transmitted orally. Depending on the era, region, and patrons, Jain literature was written in a variety of languages other than Prakrit and Ardha Magadhi. During the Sangam Age in south India, they wrote in Tamil. They wrote in Sanskrit, Shauraseni, Gujarati, and Marathi, among other languages. Since Mahavira's time, the Jain sacred literature has been preserved orally.