📚 Important Buddhist vs Jaina Texts – Comparative Table
| 🧾 Text | 🕉️ Tradition | 📌 Key Features / Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Tripitaka (Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma) | Buddhist | Canonical texts of Theravāda Buddhism; Vinaya = monastic rules, Sutta = discourses, Abhidhamma = philosophy. |
| Milindapanha | Buddhist | Dialogue between Indo-Greek King Menander & sage Nāgasena—philosophical Q&A. |
| Dhammapada | Buddhist | Verses of Buddhist wisdom and ethics. |
| Mahavamsa / Dipavamsa | Buddhist | Historical chronicles of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. |
| Lalitavistara | Buddhist | Mahayana text describing Buddha’s life. |
| Avadanasataka | Buddhist | 100 stories illustrating karma and moral lessons. |
| Jataka Tales | Buddhist | Birth stories of previous lives of the Buddha. |
| Nettipakarana | Buddhist | Theravāda Buddhist commentary/interpretative guide. |
| Visuddhimagga | Buddhist | A meditation manual by Buddhaghosa (5th century CE). |
| 🧾 Text | 🕉️ Tradition | 📌 Key Features / Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Agamas | Jaina | Jaina canonical texts of the Svetambara sect. |
| Purvas | Jaina | Original teachings of Mahavira—now mostly lost. |
| Kalpasutra | Jaina | Biography of Mahavira; recited during Paryushan. |
| Tattvartha Sutra | Jaina | Written by Umāsvāti—first Jain text in Sanskrit; covers Jain philosophy. |
| Parishishtaparvan | Jaina | Hemachandra’s text on Jain monk biographies. |
| Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana | Jaina | Hemachandra's lives of 63 Shalaka Purushas (great beings). |
| Acharanga Sutra | Jaina | Early Jain text detailing conduct for monks. |
| Bhagavati Sutra | Jaina | Dialogue-style Jain scripture covering metaphysics and ethics. |
| Samayasara | Jaina | A metaphysical treatise by Acharya Kundakunda. |
✅ Tips:
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Buddhist texts often deal with Buddha’s life, moral stories (Jatakas), and philosophy.
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Jaina texts emphasize conduct, karma theory, metaphysics, and biographies of Tirthankaras.
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Remember Tripitaka (Buddhist) ≠ Agamas (Jaina) — very commonly asked.
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Hemachandra is a key author for multiple Jain texts.