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Chapter 11
JAIN SCRIPTURES
JAINISM is an ancient religion.
The Jain sacred literature was preserved by word of mouth from Lord Mahavir's time, and later written down in Ardha Magadhi or Prakrit - a language of ancient India.
Jain teachings are written in books called Agams and other scriptures. Agams are ancient, sacred books, which describe the Jain philosophy, principles, codes of conduct, Jain geography, astronomy, logic, and mathematics. Many good stories are also told in these ancient books.
Thousands of manuscripts of such books have been preserved in India and in libraries around the world.
There are two texts which are better known. The first one is the Kalpasutra. The Kalpasutra describes the lives of the first 23 Tirthankars briefly and the life of Bhagvan Mahavir in detail. It is usually read during the eight-day festival of Paryushan. The second well-known text is the Tattvarthasutra. This book explains the philosophy of the soul and matter. English translations of these books are available.
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पगासमागताचाहाचारागिहाणीवनाचमासाचहामा आसादसाहातस्मयासाठसहासनहादिवासणामदाविङयन तरपवरखेडरायाधमहाविमाणावामसागारावाहिश्यानाच्यावश्क । पणासवरकराणाविरकाणा गतरवियंवनाशदवउंचावदा वातारातवासाइमासमणि पाणसुसमससमागममाएवAITHILA रसुसमाएसनापनक्सापामसमअसमासमापवईनापास मुममाएसमाएबजावंताया वदक्षपदासाहबहादामदिया
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