In Jain philosophy, the word aguru‑laghu is used in two different but related ways, and your question is exactly about that difference.

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1. Aguru‑laghu as a common guna of all 6 dravya

This is the sāmanya-guṇa (common attribute) that exists in:

• Jiva (soul)
• Pudgala (matter)
• Dharma (medium of motion)
• Adharma (medium of rest)
• Akash (space)
• Kaal (time)

Here aguru‑laghutva guna means:

• A substance never becomes another substance.

(Jiva never becomes pudgala, pudgala never becomes dharma-dravya, etc.)

• An attribute of a substance never becomes another attribute.

(Knowledge does not become colour, colour does not become smell, etc.)

• The substance keeps its own identity through all changes of modes (paryaya).

So, this aguru‑laghu = “constancy / individuality of every dravya”. It is always present, in all six dravya, in bondage as well as in liberation.

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2. Aguru‑laghu as an attribute of Siddha Jiva (after shedding gotra‑karma)

In the list of 8 attributes of a Siddha, one is also called aguru‑laghutva:

• After complete destruction of karmas (including gotra‑karma), the soul becomes Siddha.
• Then all Siddhas on Siddha-śilā are:

- Equal in status – no one is “higher” (guru) or “lower” (laghu). - No up and down movement; they never “rise higher” or “fall lower”. - All have equal infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss, etc.

So, this aguru‑laghu = “no higher–lower, no superiority–inferiority among liberated souls”.

Gotra‑karma creates worldly high / low status (noble family, low family, respect, disrespect, etc.). When gotra‑karma is completely destroyed, the soul’s natural equality with all other Siddhas becomes manifest.

You can read more on the 8 attributes of Siddha here

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3. Main difference in simple points

1. Where it exists

- Common aguru‑laghu: in all 6 dravya, always. - Siddha aguru‑laghu: only in liberated souls as a special quality.

1. What it protects

- Common aguru‑laghu: protects the identity of each substance and its gunas (jiva stays jiva, pudgala stays pudgala, etc.). - Siddha aguru‑laghu: shows equality of status among all Siddhas (no “higher” or “lower” Siddha).

1. Relation to karma

- Common aguru‑laghu: exists irrespective of karma; even a bound soul has it as a dravya. - Siddha aguru‑laghu: becomes fully manifest only after destruction of karmas, especially gotra‑karma, which was causing sense of high/low status.

1. Type of guna

- Common aguru‑laghu: sāmanya-guṇa (common attribute) of all dravya. - Siddha aguru‑laghu: viśeṣa-guṇa / attribute of the perfected jiva in its liberated state.

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So, in short:

• The aguru‑laghu present in all 6 dravya = constancy and individuality of every substance.
• The aguru‑laghu revealed in the soul after shedding gotra‑karma = equality and non-high/low status among all liberated souls on Siddha-śilā.