Most of the earliest and most important Jain texts are in different dialects of Prakrit (especially Ardhamāgadhī and Śaurasenī). Below is a simple overview of the main types of Jain literature in Prakrit:

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1. Āgama (Canonical) Literature – mainly Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit

These are the oldest Jain scriptures, based on Bhagwān Mahāvīr’s teachings (especially in the Śvetāmbara tradition):

1. Aṅga Āgamas

- 12 main texts (like Ācārāṅga, Sūtrakṛtāṅga, Bhagavatī Sūtra, etc.) - Deal with conduct, doctrine, vows, cosmology, stories, etc. - Language: mostly Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit.

1. Upāṅga Āgamas

- 12 texts which explain and expand the Aṅgas. - Also mainly in Prakrit (Ardhamāgadhī-type).

1. Cheda-sūtras

- 6 texts about monastic discipline (rules, punishments, conduct of monks and nuns). - In Prakrit.

1. Mūla-sūtras

- 4 basic texts used for beginners in monkhood. - Simple style, Prakrit language.

1. Prakīrṇaka-sūtras (Miscellaneous texts)

- About 10 texts on various topics like vows, death-preparation, meditation, hymns, etc. - In Prakrit.

1. Cūlikā-sūtras

- 2 texts that supplement and clarify other Āgamas. - Also in Prakrit.

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2. Other Jain Prakrit Text Types

Apart from the formal Āgamas, many other Jain works were also written in Prakrit:

1. Prakaraṇa-granthas (Philosophical treatises)

- Systematic works explaining soul, karma, liberation, vows, etc. - Very important in Digambar tradition too. - Often in Śaurasenī-type Prakrit. - Examples (Digambar, by Ācārya Kundakunda – in Prakrit dialects related to Śaurasenī): - Samayasāra – nature of the soul. - Pañcāstikāya-sāra – 5 real substances (dravyas). - Pravacanasāra, Niyamasāra, etc.

1. Charita / Kathā literature (Biographical & story texts)

- Lives of Tīrthaṅkaras, ācāryas, śrāvakas, and moral stories. - Many written in Prakrit prose and verse, sometimes mixed with Apabhraṃśa. - Example: Kuvalayamālā (Prakrit narrative).

1. Stuti–stotra (Hymns and prayers) in Prakrit

- Verses praising Arihantas, Siddhas, Tīrthaṅkaras. - Example: Logassa (Caturviṃśati-stavan) in Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit. - Many short Prakrit stotras are still used in daily pūjā and svādhyāy.

1. Grammar, dictionary and poetics in Jain Prakrit

Jain ācāryas also wrote technical works (often mixing Prakrit with Sanskrit): - Vyākaraṇa (Grammar) – to explain forms of Jain Prakrit. - Kośa (Lexicons) – word-lists and meanings. - Chandaḥ-śāstra (Prosody) – metres of Prakrit verses. - Alaṅkāra-śāstra (Poetics) – style and figures of speech.

1. Kāvya (Poetry), Nāṭaka (Drama), Subhāṣita (sayings)

- Jain poets also wrote poems and dramas using Jain Prakrit (often mixed with Sanskrit and Apabhraṃśa), always keeping Jain principles in the background.

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3. Main Jain Prakrit Dialects used in Literature

Very briefly:

• Ardhamāgadhī

- Language of the Śvetāmbara Āgamas (Aṅa, Upāṅa, etc.).

• Śaurasenī / related Digambar Prakrit

- Used in many Digambar śāstras (e.g., Kundakunda’s works, other philosophical treatises).

• Māhārāṣṭrī & others

- More common in poetry and stories.

You can read a simple explanation of Jain scriptures and their languages here