Here are the principal biographical texts in Jain literature, with a brief sense of what life-stories they convey and how they relate to Jain aims. I’ll note where traditions differ.

1) Kalpasutra (Svetāmbar canon)

• What it covers: A highly detailed compendium of biographies of the Tirthankaras, especially Mahavira and other 24 Tirthankaras, plus accounts of their past lives, key miracles, monk-nuns, and major events in their renunciations.
• Doctrinal aim: Illustrates the path of right conduct, renunciation, and the ideal of kevalajña (omniscience) through exemplary lives; emphasizes discipline, moral choices, and the ideal community (sangha).
• Traditions: Svetambara presentation is the most famous; Digambara tradition has its own biographical materials but does not treat Kalpasutra as canonical in the same way.
• Note on the life-stories: Stories are conveyed to inspire veneration, ethical conduct, and the aspiration to liberation by following the Tirthankaras’ examples.

2) Parshva-charitra ( narratives about Parshvanatha)

• What it covers: The life and deeds of Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara, including his renunciation, teaching, and the establishment of the Jain path.
• Doctrinal aim: Demonstrates renunciation, reform, and the early formation of the Jain path; highlights the ethical teachings attributed to Parshvanath.
• Traditions: Widely found in Svetambara and Digambara literature with some textual variations.
• Note on the life-stories: Used to illustrate steadfast practice, moral discipline, and the renunciation of worldly ties.

3) Mahapurana (Jinasena and Gunabhadra)

• What it covers: A grand narrative epic that includes biographical sections on various Tirthankaras and great Jain figures, presented within a broader cosmological and moral framework.
• Doctrinal aim: Teaches ethical conduct, the consequences of karma, and the dharma of the Jain community through exemplary biographies and mythic history.
• Traditions: Primarily associated with the Digambara tradition in terms of its medieval authorship and reception, though its stories are widely studied across Jain communities.
• Note on the life-stories: Presents moral exemplars and episodes designed to reinforce non-violence, truth, and restraint.

4) Mulya-charitra and other hagiographic traditions (regional hagiographies)

• What they cover: Collections of biographical sketches of Tirthankaras and revered monks/ladies, often organized by local lineage or temple tradition.
• Doctrinal aim: Encourage devotion, ethical living, and temple-based practices; reinforce the historical memory of teachers and lay practitioners.
• Traditions: Vary by Digambara and Svetambara communities; texts may emphasize different episodes or miracles.
• Note on the life-stories: Often more devotional and community-oriented, while still aiming to model Jain ethics.

5) Tirthankar-charitra excerpts in other canonical and semi-canonical works

• What they cover: Short biographies of individual Tirthankaras or notable monks (often embedded in larger doctrinal treatises).
• Doctrinal aim: Provide accessible biographical illustrations of Jain virtues and the progression from worldly life to renunciation.
• Traditions: Present in both Digambara and Svetambara traditions, sometimes with different emphases or details.
• Note on the life-stories: Used for teaching lay followers and monastics through memorable biographical episodes.

How to use these texts for doctrinal aims

• Focus on the core virtues each biography exemplifies: renunciation, non-violence, truthfulness, restraint, compassion, and the pursuit of kevalajña.
• See how each life-story models choices faced by practitioners: lay ethics (ahimsa in daily life), monastic discipline (proper vows and conduct), and the aim of liberation (moksha).
• Be aware of tradition-specific emphases: Svetambara sources often present certain episodes with particular emphasis on community memory and ritual, while Digambara sources may stress monastic discipline and renunciation in distinctive ways.

If you’d like, I can:

• Match each biography to its most canonical text in the tradition you follow (Digambara or Svetambara).
• Provide short, exact summaries of a specific life-story from a given text.
• Quote brief, authentic verses or passages (with context) from the texts you’re studying.

Note: I’ve kept the overview simple and focused on the doctrinal purpose of biographies in Jain literature. If you want more precise references to specific passages or a deeper dive into a particular text, tell me which tradition you’re studying (Digambara or Svetambara) and which Tirthankara or figure you’re most interested in.