The Scriptures

the texts that carry it — language, era, and use Part of Stories & Scripture →

The Tattvartha Sutra. Three hundred and fifty aphorisms in Sanskrit containing the entire system — soul, non-soul, the inflow of karma, its bondage, its stopping, its shedding, and liberation. Both Digambaras and Svetambaras accept it, which after two millennia of disagreeing about nearly everything else makes it the only common ground in the library. Language Sanskrit, in about 350 aphorismsComposed Umaswati, somewhere between the second and fifth century Open the book — context & 1 source →

The Agamas. Mahavira's words as the tradition could hold them — and the split over whether they survived intact became part of the tradition itself. Language Ardhamagadhi PrakritComposed canonized c. 450 CE from older oral tradition Open the book — context →

The Kalpa Sutra. The lives of the Tirthankaras and the rules of the rainy-season retreat, read aloud in full across the eight days of Paryushana every year. The fourteen dreams of Mahavira's mother are enacted, and in some congregations the right to hold the dream-images is auctioned. It is the text Svetambara Jains have actually heard. held by most Language Ardhamagadhi PrakritComposed Attributed to Bhadrabahu; read publicly since at least the fifth century Open the book — context →

Samayasara. Kundakunda writing about the soul from the soul's own standpoint, in which the body, the karma and even the vows are other, and the self was never bound at all. From a lower standpoint the vows are essential; from this one they are not. Every argument in modern Jainism about ritual versus realisation runs through this book. ⚖ contested within Language Prakrit verseComposed Kundakunda, first to eighth century — the dating is genuinely unresolved Open the book — context →

The Shatkhandagama, and the lost canon. Digambaras hold that the original teaching was progressively forgotten and that this second-century text is the oldest thing that survives; Svetambaras hold that the canon was preserved orally and written down at Valabhi in the fifth century. Each sect built its entire scriptural authority on its answer, and there is no way to settle it. ⚖ contested within Language PrakritComposed Pushpadanta and Bhutabali, around the second century, from what could still be remembered Open the book — context →

The Bhaktamara Stotra. Forty-eight Sanskrit verses to Rishabhanatha, said to have been composed in prison by Manatunga with each verse snapping one chain. It is recited daily by Jains of every sect, including those who reject image worship entirely, which makes it about the only devotional text the whole community shares. Language Sanskrit, forty-eight versesComposed Manatunga, seventh century or thereabouts Open the book — context →