Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.6

Jain Councils

Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.6

The Jain Councils were assemblies of monks that gathered and fixed the teachings of Mahavira. The First Jain Council met at Pataliputra around 300 BCE under Sthulabhadra, after a long famine in Magadha, and compiled the 12 Angas, since the 14 Purvas were by then nearly lost. The Second met at Valabhi in Gujarat in the fifth to sixth century CE (traditional dates 453 or 512 CE) under Devardhi Kshamashramana, who had the Agamas written down. The Digambara sect does not accept these canons, which is linked with the Digambara and Svetambara split.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

At a Glance

First Pataliputra, about 300 BCE, Sthulabhadra
Second Valabhi, 5th to 6th century CE, Devardhi
Result 12 Angas and later written Agamas
Lost texts 14 Purvas
Split Digambara and Svetambara
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

Where Does It Fit?

This is the sixth topic of the macro on religion and philosophy. It parallels the topic on Ajatashatru, Mahakassapa Second Vaishali, Kalashoka, Sabakami Third Pataliputra, Ashoka, Moggaliputta Tissa Fourth Kashmir, Kanishka, Vasumitra Result Canon…">Buddhist councils and explains how the Jain canon was preserved and why the order divided. Previous topic: Mahavira Core teaching Ahimsa, five Mahavratas, Triratna Philosophy Anekantavada, Syadvada Canon Agamas in Ardhamagadhi…">Jainism (Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Agamas). Next topic: Sikhism.

What Are the Two Jain Councils?

Council	Place and date	Leader	Outcome
First Council	Pataliputra, about 300 BCE, in the time of Chandragupta Maurya, following a famine	Sthulabhadra, a disciple of Bhadrabahu	Compilation of the 12 Angas. The 14 Purvas, the oldest texts, were mostly lost and the twelfth Anga, Drishtivada, was not preserved fully
Second Council	Valabhi in Gujarat, fifth to sixth century CE; traditional dates are 453 CE or 512 CE	Devardhi Kshamashramana (Devardhigani)	The Svetambara canon was put into writing, with the final form of the Agamas in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit

Why Did the Councils Matter for the Jain Sects?

Famine of Magadha: according to Svetambara and Digambara accounts, a twelve-year famine led Bhadrabahu and many monks to go south, while Sthulabhadra stayed in Magadha
Bhadrabahu: the last Shruta Kevali, said to have known all the scriptures; he is linked with Chandragupta Maurya at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka
Sthulabhadra: led the monks who stayed and called the council at Pataliputra
Dispute on dress: as tradition tells it, monks who came back from the south held strict nudity, and those in Magadha had begun to wear white garments, which led to the Digambara and Svetambara sects
Purvas: the 14 old texts attributed to the teaching of Mahavira, of which only knowledge of some survived
Angas: the 12 principal texts of the Svetambara canon, such as the Acharanga and Sutrakritanga
Writing down: the Agamas were remembered orally until Valabhi, where they were written, which is why the date of the second council is significant
Digambara view: Digambaras say the original Agamas were lost with the death of the last scholars and follow texts like the Shatkhandagama and Kasayapahuda

What Else Should You Remember?

Alternate names: Devardhi Kshamashramana is also written Devarddhigani; Sthulabhadra as Sthulibhadra; Valabhi as Vallabhi or Vala
Mathura Vachana: a parallel council at Mathura under Skandilacharya, in about the fourth century CE, also revised the Agamas, so Valabhi is not the only recension
Valabhi: the town in Saurashtra in Gujarat was also a seat of learning and capital of the Maitrakas
Ardhamagadhi: the half-Magadhi Prakrit of the Agamas, the language in which Mahavira is traditionally believed to have taught
Comparison with Buddhist councils: Buddhists held four councils in Pali and Sanskrit, while the Jains held two main ones in Ardhamagadhi, as in Buddhist Councils (First to Fourth)
Later Jain texts: works of Umaswati such as the Tattvartha Sutra are accepted by both major sects and give a common summary
Jain canon today: the Svetambara canon has 45 Agamas, as in Jainism (Tirthankaras, Anekantavada, Agamas)
Sub-sects: Svetambaras later divided into Murtipujaka, Sthanakavasi and Terapanthi, while Digambaras into Bispanthi and Terapanthi
Role of monks: the councils were assemblies of monks, not lay people, and decisions were by consensus of the senior monks
Source of the story: the famine and migration account is a tradition kept by the sects, and the Digambara and Svetambara versions differ on details, so historians treat it with caution
Date caution: the dates of the Jain councils vary in traditions, so exam options usually say approximately
Link with patron kings: the first council falls in the Mauryan period and the second in the age of the Maitraka rulers of Valabhi

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Council details: place, leader and outcome of the two councils
Persons: Bhadrabahu, Sthulabhadra and Devardhi Kshamashramana
Texts: Angas, Purvas and Agamas
Sects: the link with the Digambara and Svetambara split
Common errors: treating Bhadrabahu as the head of the Pataliputra council, or placing Valabhi in Bihar

As an analytical point, the Jain councils show the importance of preserving oral knowledge and the risks of loss during famine and migration. The long dependence on memory explains the loss of the Purvas and the later dispute on authentic scripture.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Tables Two councils compared
Texts Angas and Purvas
Sects Origin of the split

What Came Next?

The next topic covers Sikhism, a later faith born in Punjab. Next topic: Sikhism.

Key People and Terms

Anga Principal Jain text
Purva Oldest lost text
Agama Jain canon
Shruta Kevali Knower of all scripture
Vachana Recension of texts
Drishtivada Twelfth Anga

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

First: Pataliputra, Sthulabhadra, 12 Angas.
Second: Valabhi, Devardhi, Agamas written.
Lost: the 14 Purvas.
Bhadrabahu went south with Chandragupta.
Digambaras reject the Svetambara canon.

Do Not Confuse With

Bhadrabahu and Sthulabhadra Leader who went south versus leader who stayed in Magadha
Angas and Purvas Surviving principal texts versus the older lost texts
Jain and Buddhist councils Two versus four, and different languages

Memory Hook

Famine at Pataliputra, writing at Valabhi.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about how religious canons were preserved and divided. These points give a balanced frame.

Preservation Oral tradition and writing
Division Sect formation
Language Prakrit as medium

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“How did the Jain Councils shape the canon and sects of Jainism?”

How to Answer

Cause Famine and migration.
Councils Pataliputra and Valabhi.
Canon Angas and Agamas.
Result Sect division.

GS Relevance

Prelims: place, president and result of the Jain Councils, Angas and Purvas. GS Paper 1: Indian culture, Jainism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the Jain Councils?

The Jain Councils were assemblies of monks held to compile and preserve the teachings of Mahavira. Two are well known: the first at Pataliputra around 300 BCE under Sthulabhadra, and the second at Valabhi in Gujarat in the fifth to sixth century CE under Devardhi Kshamashramana, who put the Agamas into writing.

Who presided over the First Jain Council?

Sthulabhadra led the First Jain Council at Pataliputra around 300 BCE. After a famine in Magadha, he and the monks who stayed behind compiled the 12 Angas from memory, since the older 14 Purvas had been largely lost. Bhadrabahu, the senior teacher, had gone south by then.

What was decided at the Second Jain Council at Valabhi?

At Valabhi, under Devardhi Kshamashramana, the Svetambara monks fixed the final form of the Agamas and wrote them down for the first time, after centuries of oral transmission. The traditional date is 453 or 512 CE, and the Digambara sect did not accept this canon.

What is the difference between Angas and Purvas?

The 14 Purvas were the oldest Jain texts, believed to hold the full teaching of Mahavira, and were mostly lost over time. The 12 Angas are the principal texts of the Svetambara canon that survive in the compiled Agamas, including the Acharanga and the Sutrakritanga.

Why are the Jain Councils important for UPSC?

The Jain councils are asked in Prelims through the place, leader and result of each council, and the texts Angas and Purvas. They help in Mains answers on how Jainism preserved its canon, the role of famine and migration, and the origin of the Digambara and Svetambara sects.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Second Jain Council was held at Valabhi.

True

Under Devardhi Kshamashramana.

2 The First Jain Council was held at Vaishali under Bhadrabahu.

False

It was at Pataliputra under Sthulabhadra.

3 The Jain Agamas were first written down at Valabhi.