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Jainism in a Global Perspective
Cheda-sūtras or Cheda-āgamas :
The subject matters decribed in Cheda-sūtras are only for ascetics not for lay people. They relate to the conduct and behavior of monks and nuns. They also explain how they can repent for their sins and mistakes.
Mūla-sūtras :
The scriptures, which are essential for ascetics to study in the eariler stages of their monkhood, are called Mūla-sūtras.
Cūlikā-sūtras :
The scriptures, which further enhance or decorate the meaningof Anga-āgamas are known as Cūlikā-sütras. Prakirņa-sūtras :
· The scriptures, which describe independentor miscellaneous subjects of the Jaina religion, are known as Prakima-sūtras.
Following is the list of number of Anga-bāhya-āgamas recognized as authentic scriptures by different Jaina Svetāmbara Sects : Category of Anga-bāhya-āgamas Svetambara Sthanakvāsi and
Mārtipājaka Terāpanthi Upānga-agamas Cheda-sūtra-āgamas
Mūla-sūtra-āgamas Cūlikā-sūtra-āgamas Prakira-sūtra-āgamas Total Anga-bāhya-āgamas
none
-
21
Digambara Jaina literature
The Digambara sect believes that there were 26 Āgama-sūtras (12 Anga-āgamas+14 Anga-bāhya-agamas). However, they were gradually lost starting from one hundred fifty years after Lord Mahavir's nirvana. Hence they do not recognize the existing Agama-sūtras (which are recognized by the Svetāmbara sects) as their authentic scriptures.
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