What are the 1444 texts
166
In Jain tradition, the “1444 texts” usually refers to the 1444 granths (prakaraṇas) that Acharya Haribhadrasuri is said to have written.
According to Śvetāmbara tradition:
- Acharya Haribhadrasuri planned to kill 1444 Buddhist teachers and students in revenge.
- Sādhvī Yakini Mahattarā stopped him and showed him that this was grave violence.
- As prāyaścitta (atonement), he instead composed 1444 books explaining Jain dharma, forgiveness, non‑violence, right faith, etc.
- Many of these works are now lost; only a small number (dozens, not 1444) survive or are clearly identifiable.
So, can we list all 1444 texts?
No. Today we do not have a complete, reliable list of all 1444 works. The number 1444 is preserved in the tradition as:
- A sign of his immense literary output, and
- A reminder of how anger was transformed into spirituality and scriptural wisdom.
Scholars and tradition can only list the better‑known surviving works, such as (just a few examples):
- Anekāntajayapatākā
- Ṣaḍdarśanasamuccaya
- Yogabindu, Yogaśataka, Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya (yoga texts)
- Dharmabindu
- Samarāiccakahā (Samarāditya Kathā)
- Various commentaries on Āgamas (e.g. Daśavaikālika, Avasyaka, etc.)
For a simple traditional story of the 1444 books and Sādhvī Yakini Mahattarā, you can read here:
For a concise list of some main Haribhadrasuri granths (not all 1444), see: