Within the Jain tradition, the Ācāranga Sūtra occupies a place of high reverence, especially in relation to the conduct of monks. Among the two major sects, the Śvetāmbara community explicitly recognizes the Ācāranga Sūtra as part of its canonical scriptures, the Āgamas. For Śvetāmbaras, it is not merely one text among many, but is regarded as the first and most important work in their canon, preserving the authentic teachings and words of Mahāvīra on ascetic discipline and ethical life. Its authority is therefore both formal and practical, shaping the ideals of monastic behavior and spiritual practice.

The Digambara tradition, while not preserving the present text as part of a living canon, also attributes authoritative status to the Ācāranga Sūtra in a more historical and doctrinal sense. Digambaras maintain that the original Agamas, including this scripture, were lost over time, yet they still accept that the teachings associated with the Ācāranga Sūtra originate from Mahāvīra and embody valid principles of right conduct. In this way, the text’s core message—especially its emphasis on non-violence, ascetic discipline, and ethical rigor—is acknowledged as consonant with Digambara understanding, even though other, later works function as their primary scriptural authorities.

Seen from a broader spiritual perspective, the shared respect for the Ācāranga Sūtra across both sects points to a deep common ground beneath outward differences. Śvetāmbaras uphold it as a living canonical text, while Digambaras honor its original teachings despite regarding the actual scripture as no longer extant. This dual pattern of preservation and remembrance suggests that the authority of a sacred text in Jainism is not only a matter of written transmission, but also of enduring alignment with the foundational ideals of the tradition.