Divided By the Written Word

1. Divided By theWritten Word Jain Scripture

2. The Sacred Writings of Jainism The sacred writings are found in the Jain Canon called the Agamas (traditions). The sacred Canon was handed down orally in the monastic communities; it wasn’t until about 500 C.E. that someone actually wrote down the text.

3. The Split! In the fifth century C.E., the Jains split into the two branches: the Svetambara branch and the Digambara branch. These groups have many of the same texts, but each branch preserved a different version of the Canon.

4. The Svetambara Canon Collected in the sixth century C.E. Made up of 45 books (the oldest which are the 11 Angas (limbs), believed to be the teachings of Mahavira). The Angas include dialogs between Mahavira and one of his disciples. Another disciple recorded these conversations, thus preserving them for future generations.

5. The Digambara Canon According to Jain tradition this is based on a group of writings that sages composed centuries after Mahavira’s death. Two of the most important of these writings are the PrakritKarmaprabhritaand the Kasayaprabhrita. These writings date back to the second or third centuries C.E.

6. PrakritKarmaprabhrita The chapters on karma- an individual’s karmic substance is formed on the consequences of an individual’s actions and is then mixed with his soul substance, or jiva

7. Kasayaprabhrita Chapters on the role passions play in life!