Righteous action

Shrut Panchami commemorates preservation of sacred teachings of the 24th Tirthankara, Mahavir, in written form. It is also known as Jinvani Utsav and is observed with deep devotion by Jains. According to tradition, Mahavir's teachings were compiled into the Shatkhandagama, one of the oldest scriptures of Digambar Jain tradition.

Mahavir's teachings were not initially recorded in writing but were preserved through an unbroken oral tradition maintained by enlightened disciples and acharyas. As time passed, however, acharyas feared that valuable portions of the sacred teachings could disappear if they continued to rely solely on oral transmission.

Roughly 683 years after Mahavir's nirvan, Acharya Dharsen recognised the seriousness of this challenge. He decided to document the sacred teachings in writing. Acharya Dharsen invited Acharya Pushpadant and Acharya Bhutabali and entrusted them with the responsibility of preserving scriptural knowledge that existed in his memory.


Acharya Pushpadant completed the initial portion of the work. Acharya Bhutabali completed the remaining sections. Together, their efforts resulted in the compilation of the Shatkhandagama, a scripture that became a cornerstone of Digambar Jain literature.

In Jainism, devotion to tirthankar, guru, and scripture forms the foundation of religious life. While worship nurtures faith and reverence, scriptural study deepens understanding and transforms conduct. Shrut Panchami, therefore, encourages followers to not just honour sacred books but to internalise their teachings and apply them in daily life through righteous actions and ethical behaviour.

Shrut Panchami is on June 19