In Jainism, what is the collective term used for the sacred canonical texts that record the teachings of the Tirthankaras?

Introduction / Context:
Every major religious tradition has a canon or group of sacred texts that are seen as authoritative sources of doctrine and practice. In Jainism, the earliest body of scripture preserving the teachings of the Tirthankaras and their disciples is known by a particular collective name. This question checks whether the learner can correctly identify that term among several similar sounding literary labels.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The focus is on Jain sacred canonical texts. - The question asks for the collective term used for these texts. - The options are Prabandhas, Angas, Nibandhas and Charits. - We assume the standard terminology used in introductions to Jain religion.

Concept / Approach:
In Jainism, the earliest scriptural texts that systematise the teachings of Mahavira and earlier Tirthankaras are called the Angas. The word "Anga" literally means limb, suggesting that these texts are limbs or parts of the total body of doctrine. Traditional accounts speak of twelve Angas, although not all are preserved in every Jain sect. Other literary terms like Prabandha, Nibandha or Charita refer to different genres of narrative, commentary or biography and are not the canonical label for the sacred scriptures themselves.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Jain canonical literature is often described as consisting of Angas and various auxiliary texts. Step 2: Recognise that the Angas are thought of as the central limbs of Jain scriptural teaching. Step 3: Understand that Prabandhas usually refer to later narrative collections or chronicles, not the core canon. Step 4: Nibandhas generally mean essays, treatises or commentarial works in Sanskrit and other languages. Step 5: Charits or Charitas are biographies or life stories of saints and rulers, again different from the canonical Angas. Step 6: Therefore, the correct collective term for Jain sacred canonical texts is Angas.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard reference works on Jainism describe the Jain canon, especially in the Shvetambara tradition, as consisting of eleven or twelve Angas, each dealing with different aspects of doctrine, discipline and stories. Auxiliary texts are grouped separately as Upangas and other categories. When competitive exam books summarise world religions, they consistently list Angas as the canonical scriptures of the Jains, and they do not use the other words in the options as substitutes for this term.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Prabandhas: A general term for narrative collections or historical anecdotes, not the canonical scriptures of Jainism.
Nibandhas: Refers to treatises or essays and may apply to many literary traditions, but is not the Jain technical term for sacred canon.
Charits: Biographical or narrative works, often about saints or kings, again distinct from the core doctrinal Angas.

Common Pitfalls:
Because all the options sound like Sanskrit derived literary labels, candidates sometimes guess at random or choose the one that feels most familiar. Another pitfall is to confuse Jain terminology with Buddhist or general Sanskrit literature. A reliable memory hook is that Jains speak of Angas as the scriptural limbs of their tradition, while the other words mainly refer to broader literary genres.

Final Answer:
The collective term used by Jains for their sacred canonical books is Angas.