Home > Society > Religion in India > Digambara Jain Literature
Digambara Jain Literature
Digambara Jain Literature followed by the Digambaras consists of 25 Agam-sutras that have been compiled from the teachings of Lord Mahavira. These are established on original Agam Sutras.

Share this Article:

Digambara Jain LiteratureThe Digambara Jain Literature followed by the Digambara sect believes that there were 25 Agam-sutras (11 Ang-agams and 14 Ang-bahya-agams) that have been compiled from the original preaching of Lord Mahavira. However, all his preaching was gradually lost starting about two hundred years after Lord Mahavira`s enlightenment or nirvana. Hence the existing Agam-sutras have been duly accepted by the Shvetambara Sect but they have not been accepted by the Digambara sect as authentic Holy Scriptures.

Thus, in the absence of authentic Holy Scriptures, the Digambara Sect has accepted the following literature as the basis for their religious practice. These Holy Scriptures were written by the great Acharyas or scholars from 100 to 800 AD. These Holy Scriptures have been established on the original Agam Sutras.

Two Main Texts are:
* Shatkhand-agam
* Kashay-pahud

The Four Anuyogas of the Digambara Sect are:
* Pratham-anuyoga (Dharma-kath-anuyoga) - Religiou Stories
* Charn-anuyoga - Conduct
* Karan-anuyoga (Ganit-anuyoga) - Description of the Cosmos
* Dravy-anuyoga - Philosophy

Shatkhand-agam
Shatkhand-agam is one of the holy scriptures of the Digambara Sect. This Holy Scripture is also known as Maha-kammapayadi-pahuda or Maha-karma-prabhrut. It was written by two Acharyas; namely Pushpadant and Bhutabali around 160 AD. The second Purva-agam named Agraya-niya was utilised as the basis for this scripture. The scripture contains six volumes. Around 780 AD Acharya Virsen wrote two commentary texts, known as Dhaval-tika on the first five volumes and Maha-dhaval-tika on the sixth volume of this scripture.

Kashay-pahud
Kashay-pahud is another holy scripture of the Digambara Sect. This scripture was written by Acharya Gunadhara. The fifth Purva-agam named Gyan-pravad was used as a basis for this scripture. Around 780 AD Acharya Virsen and his disciple, Jinsen, wrote a commentary text known as Jaya-dhaval-tika around.

Four Anuyogas
The four Anuyogas have been described below:

Pratham-anuyoga (Dharma-kath-anuyoga) - Religious Stories. This anuyoga consists of the following texts that contain religious stories, art, literature, history, poetry, and literature.

Charn-anuyoga - Conduct. This anuyoga consists of the following texts which include tenets of observances, conduct, behaviour, and literature.

Karan-anuyoga (Ganit-anuyog) - Description of the Cosmos This anuyoga consists of the following texts which contain geography, mathematics, astronomy, astrology, and literature.

Dravy-anuyog - Philosophy. This anuyoga consists of the following texts which contain philosophical doctrine, theories, Tattvagyan, and literature.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in Religion in India

Religion in Indus Valley Civilization
Religion in Indus Valley Civilisation included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Details about the religion in Indus Valley Civilization have been gathered from archaeological artefacts.
Shaivism Religion
Shaivism is the second largest “religious community” in modern India with its roots deeply seated in the Hindu Vedic belief.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is among the more popular denominations of Hinduism, with its own distinctive ideas about spirituality and morality. Vaishnavism concentrates on worshipping god Vishnu and of his incarnations.
Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is more of a philosophy which is a way of living according to the understanding of the principles of Vedas and Upanishads.
Islam
Islam is a religion that beliefs in Allah as the one and only God and creator of the Universe. Islamic law or Sharia is characterised by the five pillars of Islam which comprise the essential duties of every Muslim.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and it is the largest religion in the world.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy that encompasses a wide variety of beliefs, practices and traditions that are chiefly based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and its later disciples.
Jainism
Jainism chronologically preceded the religion of Buddhism. It is considered as one of the oldest religions of India. Jainism in India shared with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice, but it is not a Hindu sect and not a Buddhist heresy, as earlier scholars believed.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam was founded by Zoroaster.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion started by Guru Nanak in land of Punjab in 15th century A.D.
Iyer Brahmin
Iyer Brahmins are originally from Tamil Nadu of South India. The Iyers have always taken an interest in preserving the arts and sciences.
Barai Caste
Barai Caste is the professional cultivator caste of betel leaf. Tamboli and Pansari are the terms used indifferently for Barai Caste. The diversity of names of the sub-divisions of Barai Caste discloses the mixed elements that formed the caste.
Dangi Caste
Dangi Caste is largely distributed in the high land regions, and the word Dangi is said to have originated from the geographical features of their territory. Main occupation of the members of Dangi Caste is cultivation.
Nadar Caste
One of the most renowned castes of Tamil Nadu is the Nadar caste. The Nadar community is a mixture of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which came under one banner of Nadar caste gradually.
Kumbhakar Caste
Kumbhakar is the potter caste who manufactures all kinds of earthen vessels.
Gujjars in Maharashtra
Gujjars in Maharashtra have several sub-castes. Here, in this state the Gurjars are listed as a separate caste. They are included in the Maharashtra OBC list.
Awasthi Brahmin
Awasthi is a surname or a family name of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins in the Indian continent.
Bhoyar Caste
Bhoyar Caste is largely found in the Central Provinces of the country. Traditional occupation of Bhoyars is agriculture. They are good cultivators and mostly grow sugarcane.
Gujjars in Mughal Era
Gujjars in the Mughal era enjoyed great power. Further their power increased with the decline of Aurangzeb, Mughal emperor.
Origin of Vaishnavism
Origin of Vaishnavism shares its attributes to many sources and religious evolution, dating back to pre-Vedic epoch.