Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q45 (IAS/2022) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Jain doctrine and sects Official Key

With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: 1. Nettipakarana 2. Parishishtaparvan 3. Avadanashtaka 4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana Which of the above are Jaina texts?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 2 (2 and 4 only) because both Parishishtaparvan and Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana are foundational works of Jaina literature.

  • Parishishtaparvan: Written by the 12th-century scholar Hemachandra, it is an appendix to the Trishashtishalakapurushacharitra and provides historical accounts of early Jaina teachers and kings like Chandragupta Maurya.
  • Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana: This is a major Digambara Jaina text commenced by Jinasena and completed by Gunabhadra. It narrates the hagiographies of the 63 "Great Persons" (Salakapurusas) of Jainism.

Conversely, Nettipakarana is a Buddhist guide to interpretation included in the Khuddaka Nikaya (Pali Canon). Avadanashtaka is a collection of one hundred Buddhist legends (Avadanas) written in Sanskrit. Since 1 and 3 are Buddhist texts, they are excluded, making Option 2 the only correct choice.

How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
50%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full view
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: 1. Nettipakarana 2. Parishishtaparvan 3. Avadanashtaka 4. Trishashtilaks…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 2.5/10

This question is a classic 'Sectarian Sorting' test. It rewards aspirants who move beyond general features of Jainism/Buddhism to memorizing specific literary corpora. While 'Parishishtaparvan' is a standard fact in advanced texts (Hemachandra), the 'Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana' is a direct lift from the TN Board History book, proving that state board textbooks are goldmines for ancient history terminology.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In Indian history, is Nettipakarana a Jaina (Jain) text?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
Strength: 4/5
“It consisted of 12 angas (limbs). Another council was. It was held in Valabhi, Gujarat, in the 5th century CE. It added 12 upangas (minor sections). The Jaina monks not only wrote religious treatises but also promoted secular literature. Achārangasūtra, Sutrakṛtanga, and Kalpasūtra are the earliest Jaina texts. Most of the early Jaina texts were written in Ardha-Magadhi, the language of the common people.”
Why relevant

Lists early Jaina texts (Achārangasūtra, Sutrakṛtanga, Kalpasūtra) and notes most early Jaina texts were written in Ardha-Magadhi/Prakrit.

How to extend

Check Nettipakarana's language, style, or canonical placement — if it is in an early Prakrit dialect or cited alongside these texts, that would be a clue toward Jaina attribution.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Jaina Literature > p. 99
Strength: 4/5
“The Jaina canonical literature at first took shape in Prakrit dialects. Sanskrit came to be the medium later. Within a short time, Jainism produced many great scholars and by their efforts the Hindu itihasa and puranas were recast in Jaina versions to popularise their doctrines. Vimala produced a Jaina version of Ramayana. Siddasena Divakara laid the foundation of logic among the Jainas.”
Why relevant

States Jaina canonical literature first took shape in Prakrit and later in Sanskrit, and that Jain authors produced many texts and recast other works.

How to extend

Compare Nettipakarana’s linguistic medium and thematic content to known Jaina tendencies (Prakrit/Sanskrit, reinterpretation of stories) to see if it fits Jaina patterns.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 3.1 The spread of Jainism > p. 89
Strength: 3/5
“Gradually, Jainism spread to many parts of India. Like the Buddhists, Jaina scholars produced a wealth of literature in a variety of languages – Prakrit, Sanskrit and Tamil. For centuries, manuscripts of these texts were carefully preserved in libraries attached to temples. Some of the earliest stone sculptures associated with religious traditions were produced by devotees of the Jaina tirthankaras, and have been recovered from several sites throughout the subcontinent. Ü Discuss... Is ahimsa relevant in the twenty-first century?”
Why relevant

Notes Jaina scholars produced literature in Prakrit, Sanskrit and Tamil and that Jaina manuscripts were widely preserved.

How to extend

If Nettipakarana survives in manuscript traditions in regions/collections associated with Jaina libraries or in languages commonly used by Jaina authors, that supports investigating a Jaina provenance.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 41
Strength: 3/5
“Jivaka Chinthamani, Yapperunkalam Karikai, Neelakesi are some of the prominent Jaina works in Tamil. As early as c. 470 CE a Jaina Dravida Sangha was established in Madurai by Vajranandi, a disciple of Boojya Padha. Jainism has survived in Tamil Nadu and there are several Jaina temples. One of the Jaina temples is at Tiruparuthikunram near Kanchipuram with beautiful ceiling paintings. This part of Kanchipuram was known as Jaina Kanchi.”
Why relevant

Gives examples of prominent Jaina works in Tamil (Jivaka Chinthamani, Neelakesi) showing Jaina authorship across genres and regions.

How to extend

If Nettipakarana appears in Tamil literary contexts or is cited alongside known Tamil Jaina works, a student could suspect a Jaina origin.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Rivalry among Heterodox Sects > p. 38
Strength: 4/5
“There was intense rivalry among the various heterodox sects. This is evident from the various religious accounts of the period. Buddhist and Jaina texts not only mention other heterodox sects but also belittle them. For example, Bhagavatisutra, a Jaina text, provides a poor account of Makkhali Gosala. Buddhagosa also ridicules Gosala in his commentaries. A Buddhist Jataka story "compares the heretics with the fire-flies, whose faint light faded before the rising glory of the sun, i.e., the Buddha".”
Why relevant

Shows that Jaina texts (e.g., Bhagavatisutra) are named and engaged in polemics with Buddhists, indicating identifiable corpora and intertextual citations.

How to extend

Search whether Nettipakarana is cited or critiqued in Buddhist or Jaina polemical literature — such intertextual references could indicate its sectarian affiliation.

Statement 2
In Indian history, is Parishishtaparvan a Jaina (Jain) text?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Parishishtaparvan also known as the Sthaviravalicharitra is a 12th-century Sanskrit mahakavya by Hemachandra"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists Parishishta/Parishishtaparvan under Jaina texts.
  • Identifies the work as a 12th-century Sanskrit mahakavya by Hemachandra, a known Jaina author.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The Parishishtaparvan (12th century) by Hemachandra gives a history of the earliest Jaina teachers"
Why this source?
  • States the Parishishtaparvan is by Hemachandra (12th century).
  • Says the work "gives a history of the earliest Jaina teachers," tying its subject matter to Jainism.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"which details the histories of the earliest Jain teachers."
Why this source?
  • Describes the poem as detailing the histories of the earliest Jain teachers, indicating its Jain content.
  • Places the work in the context of Jaina literature and history.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Jaina Literature > p. 99
Strength: 5/5
“The Jaina canonical literature at first took shape in Prakrit dialects. Sanskrit came to be the medium later. Within a short time, Jainism produced many great scholars and by their efforts the Hindu itihasa and puranas were recast in Jaina versions to popularise their doctrines. Vimala produced a Jaina version of Ramayana. Siddasena Divakara laid the foundation of logic among the Jainas.”
Why relevant

Says Jaina scholars recast Hindu itihasa and puranas in Jaina versions (example: Jaina Ramayana), indicating Jain authors produced purana-style works.

How to extend

A student could check whether Parishishtaparvan is a purana-style or itihasa text and then see if it fits the pattern of Jaina recastings to suspect Jaina authorship.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 3.1 The spread of Jainism > p. 89
Strength: 4/5
“Gradually, Jainism spread to many parts of India. Like the Buddhists, Jaina scholars produced a wealth of literature in a variety of languages – Prakrit, Sanskrit and Tamil. For centuries, manuscripts of these texts were carefully preserved in libraries attached to temples. Some of the earliest stone sculptures associated with religious traditions were produced by devotees of the Jaina tirthankaras, and have been recovered from several sites throughout the subcontinent. Ü Discuss... Is ahimsa relevant in the twenty-first century?”
Why relevant

States Jaina literature was produced in Sanskrit as well as Prakrit and Tamil, so a Sanskrit text could plausibly be Jaina.

How to extend

If Parishishtaparvan is in Sanskrit (or another language used by Jaina authors), that makes Jaina attribution more plausible and worth investigating.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
Strength: 4/5
“It consisted of 12 angas (limbs). Another council was. It was held in Valabhi, Gujarat, in the 5th century CE. It added 12 upangas (minor sections). The Jaina monks not only wrote religious treatises but also promoted secular literature. Achārangasūtra, Sutrakṛtanga, and Kalpasūtra are the earliest Jaina texts. Most of the early Jaina texts were written in Ardha-Magadhi, the language of the common people.”
Why relevant

Lists early canonical Jaina texts and notes Jaina monks produced both religious treatises and secular literature, showing breadth of Jaina textual production.

How to extend

A student finding Parishishtaparvan among religious or secular corpora of medieval Indian works might test whether it corresponds to genres Jaina authors commonly wrote.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Rivalry among Heterodox Sects > p. 38
Strength: 3/5
“There was intense rivalry among the various heterodox sects. This is evident from the various religious accounts of the period. Buddhist and Jaina texts not only mention other heterodox sects but also belittle them. For example, Bhagavatisutra, a Jaina text, provides a poor account of Makkhali Gosala. Buddhagosa also ridicules Gosala in his commentaries. A Buddhist Jataka story "compares the heretics with the fire-flies, whose faint light faded before the rising glory of the sun, i.e., the Buddha".”
Why relevant

Mentions specific named Jaina texts (e.g., Bhagavatisutra) and that Jaina texts engage with other traditions, implying identifiable corpora of Jaina writings exist.

How to extend

A student could check catalogues or lists of known Jaina works for Parishishtaparvan’s name or look for internal doctrinal markers typical of Jaina texts.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 41
Strength: 3/5
“Jivaka Chinthamani, Yapperunkalam Karikai, Neelakesi are some of the prominent Jaina works in Tamil. As early as c. 470 CE a Jaina Dravida Sangha was established in Madurai by Vajranandi, a disciple of Boojya Padha. Jainism has survived in Tamil Nadu and there are several Jaina temples. One of the Jaina temples is at Tiruparuthikunram near Kanchipuram with beautiful ceiling paintings. This part of Kanchipuram was known as Jaina Kanchi.”
Why relevant

Gives examples of prominent Jaina works in regional languages (Tamil), indicating Jaina literary production spanned genres and regions.

How to extend

If Parishishtaparvan appears in regional manuscript catalogues or temple libraries associated with Jaina communities, that would support a Jaina attribution.

Statement 3
In Indian history, is Avadanashtaka a Jaina (Jain) text?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
Strength: 3/5
“It consisted of 12 angas (limbs). Another council was. It was held in Valabhi, Gujarat, in the 5th century CE. It added 12 upangas (minor sections). The Jaina monks not only wrote religious treatises but also promoted secular literature. Achārangasūtra, Sutrakṛtanga, and Kalpasūtra are the earliest Jaina texts. Most of the early Jaina texts were written in Ardha-Magadhi, the language of the common people.”
Why relevant

Lists early, named Jaina canonical texts (Achārangasūtra, Sutrakṛtanga, Kalpasūtra) and notes Jaina texts were composed in specific Prakrits/Ardha-Magadhi.

How to extend

A student could check whether Avadanashtaka’s language or title matches known Jaina naming/language patterns (e.g., Prakrit/Ardha‑Magadhi, -sūtra suffixes) to judge likely affiliation.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Jaina Literature > p. 99
Strength: 3/5
“The Jaina canonical literature at first took shape in Prakrit dialects. Sanskrit came to be the medium later. Within a short time, Jainism produced many great scholars and by their efforts the Hindu itihasa and puranas were recast in Jaina versions to popularise their doctrines. Vimala produced a Jaina version of Ramayana. Siddasena Divakara laid the foundation of logic among the Jainas.”
Why relevant

Explains Jaina authors produced versions of major Hindu itihasa and puranas and also wrote in Sanskrit, showing Jaina literature includes retellings and diverse genres.

How to extend

One could test if Avadanashtaka is a recasting of a known epic/purana or appears in Jaina catalogues of such works to infer Jaina provenance.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 3.1 The spread of Jainism > p. 89
Strength: 4/5
“Gradually, Jainism spread to many parts of India. Like the Buddhists, Jaina scholars produced a wealth of literature in a variety of languages – Prakrit, Sanskrit and Tamil. For centuries, manuscripts of these texts were carefully preserved in libraries attached to temples. Some of the earliest stone sculptures associated with religious traditions were produced by devotees of the Jaina tirthankaras, and have been recovered from several sites throughout the subcontinent. Ü Discuss... Is ahimsa relevant in the twenty-first century?”
Why relevant

States Jainas produced a large corpus in multiple languages (Prakrit, Sanskrit, Tamil) and preserved manuscripts in temple libraries.

How to extend

A student might look for manuscript catalogues or temple library holdings (Prakrit/Sanskrit/Tamil) to see whether Avadanashtaka appears among preserved Jaina manuscripts.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Rivalry among Heterodox Sects > p. 38
Strength: 4/5
“There was intense rivalry among the various heterodox sects. This is evident from the various religious accounts of the period. Buddhist and Jaina texts not only mention other heterodox sects but also belittle them. For example, Bhagavatisutra, a Jaina text, provides a poor account of Makkhali Gosala. Buddhagosa also ridicules Gosala in his commentaries. A Buddhist Jataka story "compares the heretics with the fire-flies, whose faint light faded before the rising glory of the sun, i.e., the Buddha".”
Why relevant

Contrasts Buddhist Jataka stories with Jaina texts, showing distinct story-collections exist in Buddhist and Jaina traditions.

How to extend

Since 'Avadana' is a term used for story-collections (cf. Jataka reference here), a student could compare the genre usage: if Avadanashtaka follows the Buddhist/avadana naming and content pattern, it may be non-Jaina.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Sources > p. 33
Strength: 5/5
“The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, the dharmasastras, Buddhist texts such as the Tripitakas and Jatakas, Jaina texts and Greek accounts such as that of Arrian constitute literary sources for the period. Archaeological excavations have corroborated the literary evidences.”
Why relevant

Lists Jaina texts separately alongside Buddhist Tripitakas and Jatakas as different literary sources for the period.

How to extend

A student could use such source-lists to check whether Avadanashtaka is catalogued under Jaina texts or under Buddhist/other corpora to infer affiliation.

Statement 4
In Indian history, is Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana a Jaina (Jain) text?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 8: Harsha and Rise of Regional Kingdoms > Literature > p. 114
Presence: 5/5
“The Rashtrakuta rulers were great patrons of learning. Kannada and Sanskrit literature made great progress during their reign. Amoghavasa was the author of Prasnottaramalika, a Sanskrit work, and Kavirajamarga, a Kannada work. Jinasena wrote the Adipurana of the Jains. Krishna II's spiritual guide, Gunabhadra, wrote the Mahapurana of the Jains. The three gems of ancient Kannada literature - Kavichakravarthi Ponna, Adikavi Pampa and Kavichakravarti Ranna - were patronised by Rashtrkuta king Krishna III, as well as by Tailapa and Satyashraya of Western Chalukyas.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names a work as 'the Mahapurana of the Jains', directly linking the Mahapurana genre to Jain authorship.
  • Identifies a Jain author (Gunabhadra) as the composer, tying the text to Jain literary production and patronage.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Jaina Literature > p. 99
Presence: 4/5
“The Jaina canonical literature at first took shape in Prakrit dialects. Sanskrit came to be the medium later. Within a short time, Jainism produced many great scholars and by their efforts the Hindu itihasa and puranas were recast in Jaina versions to popularise their doctrines. Vimala produced a Jaina version of Ramayana. Siddasena Divakara laid the foundation of logic among the Jainas.”
Why this source?
  • States that Jaina scholars produced Jaina versions of Hindu itihasa and puranas, establishing a precedent for puranas existing in Jain form.
  • Shows that puranic literature was adapted within the Jain tradition, supporting classification of a Mahapurana as a Jain text.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC constructs 'List A vs List B' questions by mixing one obscure text (Nettipakarana) with one famous text (Parishishtaparvan) and one textbook fact (Mahapurana). The key is often identifying the *non-members* (the Buddhist texts here) to eliminate options.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Manageable but specific. 'Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana' is explicitly mentioned in TN Board Class XI (p. 114). 'Parishishtaparvan' is standard Hemachandra. 'Nettipakarana' and 'Avadanashtaka' are Buddhist distractors.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Ancient Indian Literature – specifically the 'List of Non-Canonical Texts' for Buddhism vs. Jainism. You must distinguish between Pali/Sanskrit Buddhist works and Prakrit/Sanskrit Jaina works.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these siblings: Buddhist = *Milindapanho, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Lalitavistara, Divyavadana, Buddhacharita*. Jaina = *Kalpasutra* (Bhadrabahu), *Paumachariyam* (Vimala Suri), *Syadvadamanjari* (Mallisena), *Tattvartha Sutra* (Umaswati), *Kuvalayamala* (Uddyotana Suri).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just read 'Jainism literature' as a paragraph. Create a table: Text Name | Author | Religion | Language. UPSC traps you by mixing generic-sounding titles (like 'Mahapurana') which exist in both Hindu and Jaina traditions, requiring you to know the specific prefix (Trishashti-).
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Early Jaina canonical texts and examples
💡 The insight

Identifies core early Jaina scriptures such as Achārangasūtra, Sutrakṛtanga and Kalpasūtra.

High-yield for questions on religious literature: helps classify sectarian canons, trace doctrinal development, and distinguish Jain texts from Buddhist or Hindu texts. Useful for source-based and comparative questions on early Indian religions.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, is Nettipakarana a Jaina (Jain) text?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Languages of Jaina literature
💡 The insight

Jaina canonical literature was composed in Prakrit dialects and later in Sanskrit and Tamil.

Crucial for mapping literary and linguistic history; aids in questions about mediums of composition, regional literary traditions, and transmission of religious texts. Connects to studies of Prakrit, Sanskrit, and regional literatures.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Jaina Literature > p. 99
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 3.1 The spread of Jainism > p. 89
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, is Nettipakarana a Jaina (Jain) text?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Regional spread and Tamil Jaina works
💡 The insight

Jainism spread to Tamil Nadu and produced works such as Jivaka Chinthamani and Neelakesi, and established Jaina institutions in Madurai.

Important for regional history and religion: helps answer questions on cultural influence, temple traditions, and interactions with local literatures and bhakti movements. Enables linkage between religious texts and regional sociopolitical contexts.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 41
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 40
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, is Nettipakarana a Jaina (Jain) text?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Languages of Jaina literature (Prakrit, Ardha‑Magadhi, Sanskrit, Tamil)
💡 The insight

Jain canonical literature was produced initially in Prakrit (including Ardha‑Magadhi) and later in Sanskrit and Tamil, which helps identify and classify texts as Jaina.

High‑yield for UPSC because recognizing the standard languages of religious canons aids textual attribution and periodisation questions; connects to topics on literary transmission, regional literary cultures, and religious history. Mastery helps answer questions asking which texts belong to which tradition or language group.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Jaina Literature > p. 99
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 3.1 The spread of Jainism > p. 89
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, is Parishishtaparvan a Jaina (Jain) text?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Key early Jaina texts and genres
💡 The insight

Knowledge of canonical and notable Jaina works (e.g., Āchārangasūtra, Sutrakṛtanga, Kalpasūtra, Bhagavatīsūtra, Tamil Jaina works) is essential to judge whether a particular work is Jaina.

Useful for UPSC questions on textual traditions, sectarian literature, and comparative religion; enables quick elimination of misattributed texts and supports answers about sectarian literary production and reform movements.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Rivalry among Heterodox Sects > p. 38
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 41
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, is Parishishtaparvan a Jaina (Jain) text?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Regional spread and Jaina literary activity in Tamil Nadu
💡 The insight

Jainism produced significant Tamil works and established sanghas in South India, so textual attribution must consider regional Jaina literary traditions.

Important for questions linking religious movements with regional literary cultures and temple/monastic networks; helps integrate political, social and cultural lines of questioning about the southward diffusion of non‑Vedic traditions.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 41
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Jainism in Tamilnadu > p. 40
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, is Parishishtaparvan a Jaina (Jain) text?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Languages of Jaina literature
💡 The insight

Jaina religious literature was composed initially in Prakrit dialects (including Ardha-Magadhi), and later in Sanskrit and Tamil.

High-yield for UPSC because questions often ask about original languages of religious canons and their later linguistic developments; links to study of textual transmission, comparative sectarian literature, and regional literary histories.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > Life of Mahavira > p. 39
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Jaina Literature > p. 99
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 3.1 The spread of Jainism > p. 89
🔗 Anchor: "In Indian history, is Avadanashtaka a Jaina (Jain) text?"
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Since 'Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana' (Jinasena/Gunabhadra) appeared, the next logical question is on the **'Paumachariyam'** by Vimala Suri (the Jaina version of the Ramayana) or the **'Harivamsa Purana'** by Jinasena (Jaina version of Mahabharata/Krishna's life). Also, note that *Nettipakarana* is often paired with *Petakopadesa* as para-canonical Pali texts.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use Linguistic & Keyword Heuristics: 1) 'Netti-pakarana' uses Pali phonology (Pakarana vs Sanskrit Prakarana). Pali is the hallmark of Theravada Buddhism -> Eliminate 1. 2) 'Avadana' (e.g., Divyavadana) is a specific genre of Buddhist stories about karma -> Eliminate 3. 3) 'Trishashti' means 63. Jainism has 63 Salakapurusas (Great Men); Hinduism does not use this number for Puranas -> 4 is Jaina.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS1 (Art & Culture) to GS2 (Soft Power): Texts like *Avadanashtaka* and *Nettipakarana* were crucial in the 'Sanskrit Cosmopolis' and traveled to China/SE Asia. They represent India's ancient 'Knowledge Diplomacy' and the spread of Indian values (Dharma) beyond borders.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2023 · Q46 Relevance score: 2.74

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs : Literary work Author 1. · Devichandragupta : Bilhana 2. Hammira-Mahakavya : Nayachandra Suri 3. Milinda-panha : Nagarjuna 4. Nitivakyamrita : Somadeva Suri How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

IAS · 2020 · Q21 Relevance score: 2.62

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs : 1. Parivrajaka - Renunciant and Wanderer 2. Shramana - Priest with a high status 3. Upasaka - Lay follower of Buddhism Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

IAS · 2020 · Q7 Relevance score: 2.61

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs : Famous Place Present State 1. Bhilsa - Madhya Pradesh 2. Dwarasamudra - Maharashtra 3. Girinagar - Gujarat 4. Sthanesvara - Uttar Pradesh Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

IAS · 2020 · Q71 Relevance score: 2.00

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs : 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company 3. Mirasidar - Designated revenue payer to the State Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?