45 aagams with description
Here is the traditional Śvetāmbara list of the 45 Agams (Aagams), with simple, authentic meanings. I’ve grouped them as in the standard 11 Anga Agams, 12 Upānga Agams, 6 Cheda Sutras, 4 Mūla Sutras, 10 Prakīrnaka Sutras, plus the Nandi and Anuyogadvāra as sometimes noted. Where sects differ, I’ve noted the key point briefly.
11 Angā Agams (primary canonical texts)
- Acaranga Sutra: Conduct and vows of monks and nuns; ethics of the mendicant sangha.
- Sūtrakṛtānga Sutra: Refutations of other systems; Jain metaphysics and ethics.
- Thānānga Sutra (Sthānaṅga): Catalogues the categories of reality (dravya) in Jain ontology.
- Samavāyāṅga Sutra: Enumeration and arrangement of substances (dharmas) and their kinds.
- Vyākhyā-prajñapti / Bhagavatī Sutra: Exposition of doctrine with many questions and explanations.
- Jñātā-dharmakathāṅga Sutra: Parables and stories to teach Jain principles.
- Uvāśaga-dasāṅga Sutra: Rules and conduct for lay followers (Shrāvakas) and their vows.
- Antaḥkrŗdaśāṅga Sutra: Ten chapters on those who have ended rebirth in this life (satori/keval‑jñāna context).
- Anuttaraūpapātika-daśāṅga Sutra: Ten chapters on those reborn in the uppermost heavens.
- Paṇha-vāgārana (Praśna-vyākaraṇa) Sutra: Questions and explanations on doctrine and practice.
- Vipāka Sutra: The results of deeds; karmic fruits and their vindication.
12 Upāṅga Agams (secondary texts)
- Aupapātika Sutra: Rebirth and fate in various realms; cosmology context.
- Rājapraśṇiya Sutra (Rāya-praśṇiyā): Questions of kings; ethics and governance in Jain thought.
- Jīvābhigama Sutra: Classification of living beings (jiva) and non-living matter.
- Pannavanā Sutra (Pannavana): Philosophical expositions and topics of pramana and ethics.
- Surya-pannatti Sutra: Exposition on the sun and related cosmology.
- Jambūdvipaprajñapti Sutra: Exposition on Jambūdvīpa and the Jain universe.
- Candra-prajñapti Sutra: Exposition on the moon and cosmic structure.
- Nirayāvaliyāo / Kappiya Sutra: Tales of beings reborn in hells (narratives and ethics).
- Kalpāvataṃsikāḥ Sutra (Kappāvaḍaṃsiāo): Stories of kalpa-era beings and cycles.
- Pupphāo / Puṣpikāḥ Sutra: Stories about “flowers” or moral exemplars.
- Puṣpa-cūlikāḥ Sutra: The nun Puṣpacūlā and related moral tales.
- Vaṇhi-dasāo Sutra: Stories of figures from the Vṛṣṇi lineage (mythic genealogies).
4 Mūla Sutras (core foundational texts)
- Daśavaikālika Sutra (Dasaveyālīya): The early training and memorization by new mendicants.
- Uttarādhyāyana Sutra: Inquiry and spiritual progression; systematic questions.
- Āvaśyaka Sutra: Essential ritual, vows, and practices for lay and monk.
- Piṇḍa-niryukti / Ogha-niryukti: Appendixes explaining core topics; digests of philosophy.
- Nandi Sutra: The five kinds of knowledge (jnana) and their development.
- Anuyogadvāra Sutra: Analytical method and logical framing (anekāntavāda).
6 Cheda Sutras (disciplinary/monastic conduct)
- Āyāra-dasāo: Ten chapters on monastic conduct; Kalpa-sūtra within this framework.
- Bṛhat Kalpa Sutra (Bihā Kappa): Comprehensive code of conduct.
- Vyavahāra Sutra: Procedural rules and everyday monk/nun behavior.
- Nisīha Sutra (Niśītha): Interdictions and prohibitions for ethical living.
- Jīya-kappa: Customary rules and practical monastic guidelines.
- Mahā-nisīha Sutra: Large set of prohibitions and ethical boundaries.
4 Mūla Sutras (core for new mendicants) [Alternative naming sometimes used]
- Avasiyā Sutra (Avashyaka): Foundational vows and practice for lay and mendicants.
- Dasha Vaikalika Sutra (Dasha Vaikalika): The ten ingredients of right belief and practice.
- Uttaradhyayana Sutra: See above (also listed here in some schemes).
- Ogha Niryukti / Pinda Niryukti: See above (appendix texts).
Chūlikāsūtras (appendix texts)
- Nandi Sutra: See above (junction to jnana topics).
- Anuyogadvāra Sutra: See above (analysis and logic in doctrine).
10 Prakīrnaka Sutras (miscellaneous/expanded topics)
- Chatuh Sharana Sutra: The four refuges (Ārihant, Siddha, Sadhu, Dharma).
- Āurapaccakkhāṇa (Aatur Pratyakhyana): Sickness, renunciation, and death-related practices.
- Bhakti Parijñā (Bhatta-parinnā): Fasting and death reflection processes.
- Sāṁthāraka (Sanstaraka) Sutra: Death and dying practices in the Jain path.
- Taṇḍula-vaicārika (Tandula-veyāliya): Pregnancy and body knowledge.
- Candravedhyaka: Dhyāna/meditation practices described.
- Devendra-stava: Praise of Devas; cosmology and celestial beings.
- Gaṇi-vidyā: Knowledge of a Gaṇi (monastic scholar).
- Mahā-pratyākhyāna: Great renunciation and repentance.
- Vīra-stava (Veerastava): Prayers and heroic stava (note: some traditions regard this as lost or uncertain in status).
Notes on differences between traditions
- Śvetāmbara canon traditionally enumerates 45 Agams in this scheme; Digambaras differ, often considering many original texts lost or not authoritative in the same form.
- Some sects (e.g., certain Śvetāmbara sub-traditions) mark 13 Prakīrnaka/other works as not recognized by all Śvetāmbara sects; others may include or exclude certain texts in practice.
- The most important distinction for a learner is that all of these are treated as canonical in some tradition, while some texts may be considered later or non-canonical by other Jain groups. If you want, I can point you to the specific tradition’s view on any particular text.
If you’d like, I can give a compact, numbered checklist of these 45 with brief one-liners in a specific format (Anga first, then Upānga, etc.) or focus on descriptions for any particular Agam.