Here is a simple, Jain-dharmic overview of Agams (canonical Jain scriptures) and how they are viewed in the two main traditions.

What are Agams?

• Agams are the principal set of Jain scriptures. They are believed to contain the sermons of Lord Mahavira as remembered and organized by his disciples (the Ganadharas) and later teachers.
• They serve as the core teachings on conduct (moral code), philosophy, cosmology, cosmography, logic, and ritual.

Two broad traditions with different canons

• Śvetāmbara lineage:

- Considers a fairly expansive collection of texts as canonical, traditionally grouped into several layers. The body of texts is often referred to in terms like Anga, Upanga, and further sub-categories. - There is a strong emphasis on a large, organized corpus with some texts originating from early Jain communities as well as later commentaries.

• Digambara lineage:

- Has a more select canon that historically emphasizes the original sermons as remembered by the Jain community, but many early Anga texts are not retained in their active collection. - In practice, Digambaras often rely on canonical treatises and commentaries that convey Mahavira’s teachings in a form they consider closest to the original doctrine, with emphasis on ascetic practice and pure conduct.

What the Agams cover (high-level topics)

• Ethics and monastic conduct: rules for monks and nuns, layperson duties, ahimsa (non-violence), truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possessiveness.
• Cosmology and time: the structure of the universe, cycles of time, and the fate of souls.
• Psychology and philosophy: Jain epistemology, syādvāda (the doctrine of qualified non-absolutism), 모르사 (moments of perception), and categories of reality.
• Rituals and practices: rites, vows, penance, and the path to liberation (moksha) through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

Key points to remember

• Both traditions value the Agams as the foundational source of Mahavira’s teachings, but they differ on which texts are included, the extent of the canon, and the emphasis of certain doctrines.
• The exact list of texts, their order, and the inclusion or exclusion of specific works vary between Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions. This is a common area of difference in Jain scholarship.
• For practical study, many practitioners begin with clearly attributed ethical and philosophical texts that are commonly accepted across traditions and then explore tradition-specific texts to understand the differences.

If you’d like, I can locate a specific section or text within the Jain canon that you’re curious about (for example, a particular ethical rule or a philosophical topic) and explain it in a tradition-aware manner.