Here is the core idea (arth) of the Jain Agama groups, in simple terms. I have noted where the traditions differ.

1) Āṅga (the 11 main Angas) — core focus of each

• Ācārāṅga (Ayāraṅga Sūtra): conducts and codes for monks; how a Jain monk should live and behave.
• Sūtrakṛtāṅga (Sūyaḍa/Sūtrakṛtāṅga): debates about correct beliefs and how to distinguish true from false teachings; emphasis on vows and disciplines.
• Ṭhāṇaṃga (Śṭhāṅgā/Sthānāṅga): different points of doctrine arranged as questions and discussions.
• Samavāyaṃga (Samavāyāṅga): numerical groupings and calculations related to teaching and time.
• Vyākhyā-prajñapti / Bhagavaī (Bhagavatī): explanations and expositions of the Tirthankaras’ teachings.
• Nāyā-dhamma-kahāo (Jñāta-dharmakathāṅga): parables and stories that teach religious principles.
• Uvāsaga-dasāo (Upāsaka-daśāḥ): ten chapters on the Jain lay follower and lay conduct.
• Aṇuttarovavāiya-dasāo (Antakṛddaśāḥ): ten chapters on those who end rebirth in this life.
• Anuttaraupapātikadaśāh (Anuttaropapātika-daśāḥ): ten chapters on those born in the uppermost heavens.
• Praśna-vyākaraṇa (Prashna-vyākaraṇa): question-and-answer style exposition to clarify doctrine.
• Vipāka Sūtra (Vipāka Sūtra): consequences and results of actions (karma and fate).

Notes:

• Śvetāmbara tradition holds these 11 Anga texts as the core; the 12th Anga (Drṣṭivāda) is often regarded as lost in traditional accounts.
• Digambara tradition holds that the original Angas were lost and relies on later canonical/religious writings; they do not accept the present Śvetāmbara Anga set as the exact original collection.

2) Upāṅga (the 12 supplementary limbs) — core idea of each

• Upāṅga texts complement the Angas; they expand and supplement the main teachings, often elaborating on the same themes (conduct, philosophy, stories, and practices) in varied styles (prose, verse, dialogues).

Notes:

• Śvetāmbara tradition counts 12 Upāṅgas and treats them as integral supplements to the Angas.
• Digambaras regard the original corpus differently since they hold the Anga text set to have been lost and later works fill in.

3) Chedaśūtras (monastic discipline)

• These are rules and disciplinary codes for monks and nuns—how they live, observe vows, and maintain communal order.

4) Mūlasaṃhṛtas (fundamental texts)

• Foundational teachings for beginners, laying out the essential ethics and practice.

5) Prakīrṇaka (Prakīrnaka Sūtras) — miscellaneous topics

• Various treatises on particular topics of philosophy, cosmology, ethics, and practice.

6) Chūḷikā (appendix texts)

• Short supplementary texts that complete or clarify the main canon.

How to read and where to learn more

• Core idea overview of the Dvadashang (the twelve limbs) and Upāṅga grouping is explained in Jain Knowledge resources. You can read more here and here

Important note about tradition

• Śvetāmbara/Jain canonists speak of 45 Agamas total, organized into Anga, Upāṅga, Chedaśūtras, Mūlaśūtras, Prakīrnaka, and Chūlikā. Digambara Jains hold that the original Agamas were lost and that later canonical works carry the essential teachings. This distinction affects how “the Agama” is understood in practice and study. For a concise overview, you can read more here and here

If you’d like, I can summarize specific Anga or Upāṅga texts in more detail, or point to a Jain Knowledge page that explains a particular text.