Āgam (Āgamas) are the sacred Jain scriptures. They preserve the teachings of the Tirthankaras, especially Bhagwan Mahavira, as first understood by his Ganadharas (chief disciples) and later transmitted through the Jain tradition. They were preserved orally in early times in Prakrit (mainly Ardhamāgadhī) and later written down.

How different traditions view the Āgamas

• Śvetāmbara: Accept a canon traditionally counted as 45 texts, grouped as:

- 11 Aṅga Āgamas (primary texts; the 12th, Dr̥ṣṭivāda, is considered lost) - 12 Upāṅgas - 6 Chedasūtras - 4 Mūlasūtras - 2 Cūlikāsūtras - 10 Prakīrṇakas

• Digambara: Hold that the original Āgamas were lost over time; they therefore do not accept the present Śvetāmbara canon as authentic. They rely on very early authoritative works such as Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama and Kaṣāyapāhuḍa and on later treatises for doctrine and discipline.

What the Āgamas contain

• Fundamentals of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct
• Vows and ethics (ahimsā, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha)
• Rules for monks, nuns, and laypeople
• Jain cosmology, karma theory, meditation, and narratives illustrating dharma

Purpose

• To guide self-purification and progress toward moksha, while preserving the exact spiritual intent of the Tirthankaras.

For a simple overview, see:

• “What are Āgams”
• “How many Āgams” (Śvetāmbara counting)