Prakrit and Jain Canonical/Religious Literature
What this domain tests
Structure of the Jain canon, its language, principal texts, doctrines and commentarial layers.
The Śvetāmbara Āgama
- 12 Aṅgas; the 12th, Dṛṣṭivāda, is lost, so 11 survive
- 12 Upāṅgas, 10 Prakīrṇakas, 6 Chedasūtras, 4 Mūlasūtras, plus the Nandī and Anuyogadvāra
- Chief Aṅgas: Ācārāṅga (conduct), Sūtrakṛtāṅga (doctrine), Sthānāṅga and Samavāyāṅga (numerical lists), Vyākhyāprajñapti/Bhagavatī (philosophy), Jñātādharmakathā (narratives), Upāsakadaśā, Antakṛddaśā, Anuttaropapātikadaśā, Praśnavyākaraṇa, Vipākaśruta
- Language: Ardhamāgadhī; Digambara works use Jaina Śaurasenī and Jaina Māhārāṣṭrī
Doctrine
ahiṁsā; kamma and rebirth; jīva/ajīva; the nine tattvas; ratnatraya (right faith, knowledge, conduct); anekāntavāda and syādvāda.
Commentary layers
Nijjutti, Bhāṣya, Cūrṇi and Ṭīkā, for example Śīlāṅka on the Ācārāṅga and Abhayadeva on several Aṅgas.
Worked example
A question asks the language and content of the Bhagavatī. Answer: Ardhamāgadhī; the fifth Aṅga, a dialogue between Mahāvīra and Gautama Gaṇadhara expounding kamma and the six dravyas.
Traps
Saying all 12 Aṅgas survive; confusing the Śvetāmbara and Digambara canons; labelling the canon ‘Māgadhī’ instead of Ardhamāgadhī.