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Jain Literature
Jain literature is classified into two major categories:
1. Agam or Canonical Literature (Agam Sutras)
Agam literature consists of many texts, which are the sacred books of the Jain religion. They are written in the Ardha-magadhi Prakrit language.
2. Non-agam Literature
Non-agam literature consists of commentary and explanation of Agam literature, and independent works, compiled by ascetics and scholars. They are written in many languages such as Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsa, Old Marathi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannad, Tamil, German, and English.
1. Agam Literature:
Lord Mahavir's preaching was methodically compiled by his immediate disciples known as Gandharas, and elder monks known as Srut-kevalis into many texts known as Sutras. These Sutras are collectively known as Agams or Agam Sutras, 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 compiled by several Gandharas and Srut-kevalis during 150 years after Lord Mahavir's nirvan (death).
Agam literature is also divided into two groups:
Ang-agams or Ang-pravista-agams Ang-bahya-agams (outside of Ang-agams)
B.
Ang-agams or Ang-pravista-agams:
Lord Mahavir's immediate disciples were known as Ganadharas. All Ganadharas possessed perfect knowledge (keval-jnan) and attained liberation at the end of their human life. They orally compiled 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 backbone of Jain literature.
Present Status of Ang-agams:
Jain Sect
Total Ang-Agams Number of AngRecognized Agams Lost
12 12
Number of AngAgams Survived
12
Digambar Swetambar Murtipujak Swetambar Sthanakvasi Swetambar Terapanthi
12
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) was gradually lost starting about one hundred fifty years after Lord Mahavir's nirvan (death). However, other Jain scriptures and literature reference the subject matter of the Purvas.
The Digambar Jain sect also believes that the other remaining eleven Ang-agams were gradually lost. All
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