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22 - JAIN SCRIPTURES AND LITERATURE
Kunda, Tattvärtha Sutra of Umäsvämi, Padma-Purän, Ädi-Purän, Mulächär, and Gommatsär.
Tattvärtha Sutra Ächärya Shri Umäsväti's or Umasvämi's (around 200-400 AD) creation of the Tattvärtha Sutra is considered the greatest gift to Jains and is accepted by all Jains. Most of the sacred literature of the Jains is written in the Ardha-Mägadhi Präkrit language. However, the Tattvärtha Sutra is the first Jain text written in terse aphoristic form in the Sanskrit language. The book has 10 chapters and it contains 344 or 357 aphorisms. They are related to all the major theoretical and practical aspects of the Jain system.
SAMAN SUTTAM
Saman Suttam The book “Saman Suttam” is a brief compilation of the essential principles of the Jain religion and philosophy. The compilation was done in 1974 during the 2500th Nirvana anniversary of Lord Mahavir. The compilation is based on various Shvetämbar Jain Digambar literature (Shästras), and some ancient texts.
It contains 756 Sutras or verses. There are 4 main parts and 44 sub-sections in this book. परस्परोपग्रहो जीवानाम् This is a comprehensive book for the purpose of having a general acquaintance with the doctrines of the Jain religion, its code of ethics, and the process of gradual spiritual advancement of life, in a traditional but devotional manner. Hence, the book is itself as valid as the scriptures.
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JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
