________________
JAIN HISTORY LITERATURE and SECTS
E02 - Jain Scriptures and Literature
Shvetämbar Murtipujak Shvetämbar Sthanakaväsi Shvetämbar Teräpanthi
21
The Digambars have accepted 14 text of Anga-bähya Agams. However they believe that all Angabähya Agams were also gradually lost starting about two hundred years after Bhagawan Mahävir's Nirvana. Hence, in their opinion, the complete Jain Agam literature was lost within a few hundred years of Bhagawan Mahavir's Nirvana. Per Shvetämbar tradition, Anga-bähya Agams are Upanga-sutras, Chheda-sutras, Mool-sutras,
Chulikä-sutras, and Prakirna-sutras. Sub-classification of Anga-bähya Ägams of Shvetämbar Sects
Following is the list of number of Anga-bähya Agams recognized as authentic scriptures by different Jain Shvetämbar Sects: Category of Anga-bähya Agams Shvetämbar Sthänakaväsi and
Murtipujak Teräpanthi Upanga Agams Chheda-sutra Agams Mool-sutra Ägams Chulikä-sutra Ägams Prakirna-sutra Ägams
None Total Anga-bähya Agams
21
Upanga Agam sutras:
The scriptures created in relation to Anga-pravishtha Agams are called Upanga Ägams. They provide further explanation of the Anga-pravishtha Agams. Aupapätika Sutra (Ovaväiyam):
This Agam describes the splendid procession (view) of King Konika when he visited Bhagawan
Mahävir. It also explains how a person can attain heaven in the next life. Räja-prashniya Sutra (Räyä-pasena-ijja):
This Agam describes the story of Monk Keshi. Monk Keshi was the Ganadhar of Bhagawan Pärshvanath. He removed the doubts of King Pradeshi regarding the existence and attributes of the soul. Monk Keshi made the king a follower of the Jain religion. After his death, the king was born in heaven as a Deva. He appeared from heaven to shower Bhagawan Mahävir with unprecedented pomp and splendor. The thirty-two dramas (plays) described in this Agam throw light upon the ancient dramatic art of
India.
Jiväbhigama Sutra:
This Agam describes the universe and the subtle description of all living beings (souls) of the universe. It gives very important information to the scholars of biology and botany.
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
Page 279 of 398
