All sutras / stotras of Jainism are written in which language?
The primary scriptures and stotras (hymns) of Jainism have been composed mainly in Prakrit languages, especially Ardhamagadhi Prakrit and Shauraseni Prakrit. Some Jain texts are also written in Sanskrit and, in later periods, in regional languages such as Gujarati, Kannada, Hindi, and Rajasthani.
For example:
- The Agamas (canonical scriptures) of the Śvetāmbara sect are mainly in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.
- Many stotras (such as Bhaktamara Stotra, Kalyan Mandir Stotra) are composed in Sanskrit.
- Jain literature, especially commentaries and philosophical works, have also been written in Sanskrit and Prakrit.
Thus, Prakrit and Sanskrit are the principal languages of Jain sutras and stotras.