Answer

The Jain Agams were not written down all at once in the beginning. They were first preserved orally after Lord Mahavira’s nirvana, and the texts were later compiled and written down over time.

• In the Śvetāmbara tradition, the Agams are traditionally said to have been compiled and written down at Valabhi around the 5th century CE.
• In the Digambara tradition, it is believed that the original Agams were eventually lost and are not available in their original form today.

Explanation

After Lord Mahavira, his teachings were memorized and passed on by monks through oral tradition. Because of this, there was no single exact date when all Agams were “written.”

So the correct way to say it is:

• Teachings were first remembered orally
• Later organized into texts
• Written down centuries afterward

Spiritual Understanding

This shows the great care Jain monks took to preserve the words of the Tirthankara. The Agams are sacred because they carry the teachings of:

• non-violence
• truth
• non-attachment
• self-discipline
• liberation

Their preservation reflects the importance Jain tradition gives to memory, discipline, and purity of teaching.

Takeaway

So, in simple words: the Agams were originally oral, and the written compilation happened much later—especially around the 5th century CE in Śvetāmbara tradition.