Answer

Digambar Jains generally do not accept the Kalpa Sūtra as an authoritative scripture because it belongs to the Śvetāmbara scriptural tradition, not the Digambar canon or accepted textual lineage.

Explanation

The main reasons are:

• Different scriptural traditions: Śvetāmbara Jains preserve and accept the Āgamas, and the Kalpa Sūtra is traditionally important in their tradition, especially during Paryushan.
• Digambar view of original Āgamas: Digambar tradition holds that the original teachings of Mahāvīr Bhagwan, as preserved in the ancient Āgamas, were gradually lost over time. Therefore, they do not accept the Śvetāmbara Āgamas as the original complete canon.
• Textual authority: Digambar Jains rely on their own authoritative scriptures and commentarial tradition, such as works connected with Āchāryas like Kundakunda, Umāsvāti/Umāsvāmi, Samantabhadra, Pūjyapāda, Akalaṅka, and others.
• Doctrinal differences: Some narratives and details in Śvetāmbara texts, including traditions surrounding the lives of Tīrthankars, are not accepted in the same way by Digambar tradition.

Spiritual Understanding

This difference does not mean Digambar Jains reject Mahāvīr Bhagwan or Jain Dharma. Rather, they follow a different understanding of which texts have preserved the teachings most reliably.

Both Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions deeply revere:

• the 24 Tīrthankars,
• Mahāvīr Bhagwan,
• ahimsa,
• karma theory,
• moksha,
• samyak darshan, samyak jñān, and samyak chāritra.

Takeaway

Digambar Jains do not accept the Kalpa Sūtra because it is part of the Śvetāmbara textual tradition, while Digambar tradition holds that the original Āgamas were lost and follows a separate authoritative scriptural lineage.