svetambar teachings agam in english
Śvetāmbara Jainism regards a large body of canonical scriptures called Agamas. These Agamas were traditionally preserved in Prakrit and later translated and transmitted in the Śvetāmbara tradition. They are organized into several broad groups, of which the most commonly referenced are:
- Angas (the “limbs”): the core set of canonical treatises. These are considered the primary scriptures in the Śvetāmbara canon.
- Upangas (supplementary/secondary treatises): texts that expand on topics found in the Angas and cover additional aspects of Jain doctrine, cosmology, ethics, and practice.
- Other canonical and semi-canonical works: there are additional texts and commentaries that are accepted within the Śvetāmbara tradition, which may include hagiographies, cosmological works, and ritual manuals.
Important points to know:
- Both Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions hold that a large and authoritative body of Jain scripture exists, but they differ in which texts are considered canonical and in the details of transmission.
- Many Śvetāmbara Agamas have English translations available, though the exact corpus that is considered canonical can differ from the Digambara list.
- Two widely cited overarching themes across the Agamas are ethics (non-violence, truth, non-attachment) and the path to liberation (right faith, right knowledge, right conduct) as taught by the Tirthankaras.
If you’re looking for English translations of specific Śvetāmbara texts, I can name particular works and explain their core teachings in simple terms.