Jain scripture book names

Here are the major Jain scripture book names you’ll commonly encounter, with a note on tradition (Śvetāmbara vs. Digambara) when relevant:

• Kalpa-sutra (Kālpasūtra) – Biographies of the Tirthankaras, especially Mahavira; central to Śvetāmbara traditions (Digambara traditions honor similar content in different compilations).

• Aṅga (Anga) texts – The core group of Śvetāmbara canonical works. Important examples include:

- Acharanga Sutra (first in the Anga collection) - Sutrakritanga - Kalpa Sutra (sometimes treated within Anga-related materials in various lists) - (Other Anga texts are referenced in traditional catalogues and later commentaries)

• Upanga (Upanga) texts – Supplementary to Anga; include various treatises expanding on Jain doctrine and practice.

• Cheda-sutras (or Chedagrantha) – Works dealing with conduct and discipline; often discussed in Digambara and Śvetāmbara lineages in different garths.

• Mūlīya-suttas (core doctrines) – Found across traditions as foundational sutras or their close compilations.

• Tattvartha Sutra (Śrī Tattvarthasūtra) – Comprehensive system of Jain philosophy; highly regarded and widely studied by both Śvetāmbara and Digambara depending on school and commentary.

• Nandi and other praise/stotra literature – Eulogies and devotional works, commonly used across Jain traditions.

• Commentaries and digests (including Śvetāmbara and Digambara works) – Traditional commentators’ works that explain and systematize the suttas and doctrinal points.

Important notes about differences:

• Śvetāmbara and Digambara traditions both revere many of the same core doctrines, but the exact list and some titles differ because each tradition preserves a different portion of the ancient Jain literature and organizes it differently.
• Some texts are core to one tradition and exist in a revised or differently titled form in the other; in other cases, parallel texts cover the same topics under different names.

If you’d like, I can tailor this list to a specific tradition (Śvetāmbara or Digambara) or provide brief summaries of any one of these texts, including their central themes and typical use in study and practice.