By
Pravin K. Shah
Jain Study Center of
North Carolina
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 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:
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.
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 Swetambar Jains believe that the eleven Ang‑agams were remembered by
their ascetics and were properly documented by them during the last two
conferences that were held in Mathura and Valabhi around one thousand
years after Lord Mahavir's nirvan.
Present Status of Ang-agams:
Jain Sects
|
Total Ang-Agams
|
Number of Ang-agams Lost
|
Number of Ang-agams Survived
|
Digambar
|
12
|
12
|
0
|
Swetambar Murtipujak
|
12
|
1
|
11
|
Swetambar Sthanakvasi
|
12
|
1
|
11
|
Swetambar Terapanthi
|
12
|
1
|
11 |
Ang‑bahya‑agams (outside of Ang‑agams):
Monks who had knowledge of a minimum of ten Purvas were
known as Srut‑kevlis. They possessed the total knowledge of reality (soul,
matter, their relationship etc.) by studying scriptures. The Srut‑kevlis
wrote many texts (sutras) expanding the subject matter of the Ang‑agams.
Collectively these texts are called Ang‑bahya‑agams meaning outside of
Ang-agams. The different Jain sects accept different numbers of Ang‑bahya
texts.
The Digambar sect believes that all Ang-bahya-agams were
also gradually lost starting about two hundred years after Lord Mahavir's
Nirvan. Hence in its opinion, the complete Jain agam literature is lost
within few hundred years after Lord Mahavir's nirvan.
Present Status of Ang-bahya-agams:
Jain Sects
|
Total Ang-bayha Agams
|
Number of Ang-bayha agams Lost
|
Number of Ang-bayha agams Survived
|
Digambar
|
14
|
14
|
0
|
|
Swetambar Murtipujak
|
34
|
0
|
34
|
|
Swetambar Sthanakvasi
|
21
|
0
|
21
|
|
Swetambar Terapanthi
|
21
|
0
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Classification of Ang‑bahya‑agams:
The Swetambar sect has divided Ang‑bahya‑agams into the
following categories:
Upang-sutras:
The scriptures, which
provide further explanation of Ang-agams, are called Upang-agams.
Chhed‑sutras:
The subject matters
described in Chhed‑sutras 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.
Mool‑sutras:
The scriptures, which are
essential for ascetics to study in the earlier stages of their monkhood,
are called Mool‑sutras.
Chulika‑sutras:
The scriptures, which
further enhance or decorate the meaning of Ang‑agams are known as Chulika‑sutras.
Prakirna‑sutras:
The scriptures, which
describe independent or miscellaneous subjects of the Jain religion, are
known as Prakirna‑sutras.
Following is the list of number of Ang-bahya-agams
recognized as authentic scriptures by different Jain Swetambar Sects:
Category of
Ang-bahya-agams
|
Swetambar Murtipujak
|
Sthanakvasi and
Terapanthi
|
Upang‑agams
|
12
|
12
|
Chhed‑sutra‑agams
|
6
|
4
|
Mool‑sutra‑agams
|
4
|
3
|
Chulika‑sutra‑agams
|
2
|
2
|
Prakirna‑sutra-agams
|
10
|
none
|
Total Ang‑bahya‑agams
|
34
|
21
|
|