Important Jain Scholars and Their Works

Sect, period, work and why important — in one glance for Prelims & Mains linkage.

Scholar	Period	Sect / Role	Major Work(s)	Why Important
Bhadrabahu	4th–3rd BCE	Early Jain acharya	Kalpasutra (traditionally linked)	Linked with Chandragupta Maurya; south migration
Sthulabhadra	3rd BCE	Shvetambara leader	Canon preservation	Led council at Pataliputra
Umaswati / Umasvami	2nd–3rd CE	Respected by both sects	Tattvartha Sutra	Only Jain text accepted by both sects
Kundakunda	2nd CE	Digambara philosopher	Samayasara, Pravachanasara	Core Digambara philosophy
Haribhadra Suri	8th CE	Shvetambara scholar	Yogabindu, Shaddarshanasamucchaya	Compared Jainism with other philosophies
Hemachandra	12th CE	Court scholar	Trishashti Shalaka Purusha	Scholar of Solanki king Kumarapala
Jinasena	8th–9th CE	Digambara	Adipurana	Life of Rishabhanatha
Gunabhadra	9th CE	Digambara	Uttarapurana	Completed Jinasena’s work
Somadeva Suri	10th CE	Jain author	Yashastilaka	Jain ethics in narrative form
Siddhasena Divakara	5th CE	Logician	Works on Nayavada	Developed Jain logic
Samantabhadra	2nd CE	Digambara	Aptamimamsa	Early Jain logic and philosophy
Pujyapada	5th–6th CE	Digambara commentator	Sarvarthasiddhi	Commentary on Tattvartha Sutra
Yashovijaya	17th CE	Shvetambara logician	Philosophical texts	Last great Jain logician

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