What are the Jain Agamas and which ones survive today?

The Jain Agamas constitute the foundational canonical texts of Jainism, containing the teachings of Lord Mahavira and earlier Tirthankaras. These scriptures were originally transmitted orally in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit and later written down. The Śvetāmbara sect recognizes a collection of 45 Agamas as authentic and extant, which include texts on doctrine, conduct, cosmology, and philosophy. These Agamas are divided into categories such as Angas (primary limbs) and Upangas (secondary limbs). In contrast, the Digambara sect believes that the original Agamas were lost over time and does not accept the Śvetāmbara Agamas as authentic; instead, Digambaras rely on later texts and commentaries composed by their Acharyas. The surviving Śvetāmbara Agamas are central to their religious rituals, scriptural study, and monastic discipline. Important works that discuss these Agamas and their interpretations include 'Vibhinn Jain Sampradayo me Manya Agam' (2002), which surveys the Agamas accepted by various Jain traditions, and 'Agam Sagar Kosh' (2018), which provides detailed explanations of Jain Agamas and literature. Thus, the Jain Agamas remain a vital source of Jain dharma, ethics, and philosophy, especially within the Śvetāmbara tradition, while the Digambara tradition preserves Jain teachings through alternative canonical and exegetical literature.