Jain Agamas (Digambara) Jain Agamas (Digambara) Agamas are texts of Digambara Jainism based on the discourses of the "tirthankara". The originals are all lost, and the extant versions were written in the 1st millennium CE. They are believed by Digambaras to be Mahavira's discourses in a samavasarana (divine preaching hall). They are called "Śhrut Jnāna" and comprises twelve "angas" and fourteen "purvas". This forms the basis of the Jaina "Agamas" or canons. These are believed by Jains to have originated from Rishabhanatha, the first "tirthankara" who lived millions of years ago. The earliest versions of Jain Agamas known were composed in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.
Digambara monk most revered "Digambara" monks. Every Digambara monk is required to observe 28 "mula gunas" (lit. twenty-eight primary attributes) compulsory. These are also called root-virtues, because it is said that in their absence other saintly virtues cannot be acquired. They are thus like the root, in the absence of which stems and branches tuneless come into being. These twenty-eight primary attributes are: five supreme vows ("mahāvrata"); five regulations ("samiti"); five-fold control of the senses ("pañcendriya nirodha"); six essential duties ("Şadāvaśyaka"); and seven rules or restrictions ("niyama"). According to Acharya Samantabhadra’s Ratnakaraņdaka śrāvakācāra: The first vow of a Digambara monk relates to