The Jain Canonical Literature

The Jain canonical literature was originally composed in Ardha-Magadhi, but later Sanskrit became its principal medium. There is a lot of variation as to what constitute the original Jain literature. And as we have seen in the history section, for several centuries even the monks themselves did not have a common agreement on this subject.

The whole literature came into its present format much after the passing away of Mahavira. The works therefore do not guarantee the purity of his teachings. However for our understanding, we are presenting below one such commonly known classification. (Ref. Indian Philosophy, Vol.1, by S.Radhakrishnan)

1. The Forty one sutras. It consists of eleven Angas, 12 Upangas, five Chedas, five Mulas, and eight miscellaneious works such as the Kalpasutra of Bhadrabahu, the Nandisutra etc.

2. The Prakarnikas which are unclassified works.

3. The12 Niryuktis or commentaries.

4. One Mahabhashya or great commentary.

The non canonical literature

Those texts which do not form part of the above, but of great value to the students and followers of Jainism are included in this category. We are listing a few such works below for reader's convenience.

(Readers may note that for convenience sake we have divided the complex Sanskrit titles into individual words, but they have to be read together.)

The Svetambara Texts:

1. Tattva-artha-adhigama-sutra by Umapati (about 3rd century AD.)

2. Nyaya-avatara by Divakara Siddhasena (5th Century)

3. Saddarsana-samucchaya by Haribhadra (9th century)

4. Saddarsana-vichara by Merutunga (15th century)

The Digambara Texts:

1. Pancha-ashtikaya-sara by Kundakundacharya (50 BC)

2. Jaina-sloka-vartika by Vidyananda (8th century)

3. Atma-anusasana by Gunabhadra (9th century)

4. Tattva-artha-sara by Amitachandra (9th century)

5. Dravya-samgraha by Nemichandra (10th century)

6. Gommatasara

7. Labdhisara

8. Ksapanasara

9. Trilokasara

10. Syadavada-manjari by Mallisena (13th century)

11. Tattv-ardha-sara-dipika by Sakalakirti (15th century)

12. Pramana-naya-tattva-loka-alamkara

In addition, a lot of literature is available in Indian vernacular languages. The Jain monks created their own version of Jain Puranas on the line of the Hindu Puranas, which make an interesting reading, in addition to works of considerable importance in mathematics, politics, arts and science etc.