What is agam? It's in which language and how to read?

Agam (or Agama) in Jainism means the sacred scriptures or canonical teachings that were preached by the Tirthankaras and preserved by the Jain community. They form the core of Jain doctrinal and spiritual guidance.

Language:

• The original Jain Agamas are in Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit (the language used in many early Jain discourses).
• Over time, some later Jain texts were written in other Prakrits or in Sanskrit, but Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit remains the primary language associated with the core Agamas.
• In Svetāmbara tradition, the Agamas are the primary canonical corpus; in Digambara tradition, there is a different view about the original Anga/Agama content and its preservation, with a different set of accepted texts.

How to read:

• Reading the Agamas typically involves learning the Prakrit pronunciations, sometimes with Hindi/Marathi or other translations and commentaries to aid understanding.
• It’s common to read with a teacher or in a study group to ensure correct pronunciation, accent, and intonation, which are valued in Jain liturgy.
• Many practitioners study the Ardhaṅgama/Anga literature in parallel with a modern commentary or translation to grasp the meaning (arth) while preserving the traditional intent.
• Because there are slight differences between Svetāmbara and Digambara canons, if you are following a specific tradition, use the texts and commentaries that your tradition recommends for proper sequence and interpretation.

If you’d like, tell me which Jain tradition you follow (Svetāmbara or Digambara), and I can tailor a simple reading plan and point to the type of Agama texts most commonly studied in that tradition.