Jain literature is mainly in Prakrit, not in Pali. Let’s see this clearly and simply.

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1. Jain literature in Prakrit

In Jain Dharma, the earliest and most important scriptures are in different forms of Jain Prakrit, especially Ardhamāgadhī.

(A) Śvetāmbara Āgamas (canonical texts – all in Prakrit)

Mostly in Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit, with some parts in other Prakrits.

Main groups:

1. Aṅga Āgamas (12, now 11 available)

Example: Ācārāṅga Sūtra, Sūtrakṛtāṅga, Bhagavatī Sūtra, etc.

1. Upāṅga Āgamas (12)

1. Cheda Sūtras (6) – discipline rules for monks and nuns

1. Mūla Sūtras (4) – basic texts for new monks

1. Prakīrṇaka Sūtras (10) – smaller texts on various topics

1. Chūlikā Sūtras (2)

All of these are Prakrit Jain scriptures.

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(B) Digambara canonical Prakrit texts

Original Digambara canon (12 Aṅgas) is considered lost, but two very important Prakrit texts are regarded as canonical/near-canonical:

1. Ṣaṭkhaṅḍāgama – by Ācārya Puṣpadanta & Bhūtabali (in Prakrit)
2. Kaṣāyapāhuḍa (Kaṣāyaprabhr̥ta) – by Ācārya Guṇadhara (in Prakrit)

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(C) Other famous Jain Prakrit works

Many later Jain ācāryas wrote deep philosophical works in Prakrit, for example:

• Samayasāra – Ācārya Kundakunda (nature of soul, karma, mokṣa) – Prakrit
• Pañcāstikāyasāra – Ācārya Kundakunda (five substances) – Prakrit
• Many charita-kathā (biographical/narrative) texts, stotras, kāvyas, etc., are also in different Jain Prakrits (Ardhamāgadhī, Śaurasenī, Māhārāṣṭrī).

So, core Jain scriptural and early philosophical literature is Prakrit-based. You can read a simple explanation of the language of Jain scriptures here

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2. Jain literature in Pali

Very important point:

• Jain scriptures are not originally in Pali.
• Pali is mainly the language of the Theravāda Buddhist canon, not of Jain Āgamas.

In Jain tradition:

• Original sacred texts: Prakrit (especially Ardhamāgadhī)
• Later scriptures and commentaries: Sanskrit, then regional languages
• Pali is used by Buddhists, not as a scriptural language in Jain Dharma.

So when we speak of “Jain literature in Prakrit and Pali”:

• Prakrit → Real and direct language of Jain Āgamas and many Jain philosophical texts.
• Pali → Not used for Jain scriptures; it belongs mainly to Buddhist literature.

Only in modern academic/comparative studies you may see Jain Prakrit texts discussed along with Pali Buddhist texts.

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Simple summary

• Jain Āgamas + early Jain works = Prakrit (Ardhamāgadhī and other Jain Prakrits)
• There are no original Jain Āgamas in Pali – Pali is connected with Buddhism, not Jainism.
• Later Jain literature then moves from Prakrit → Sanskrit → regional languages, but Prakrit remains the base for our oldest and holiest scriptures.