Jain literature in Prakrit is very rich and is the main base of early Jain scriptures. I’ll give you a simple overview.

1. Why Prakrit in Jainism?

• Bhagwan Mahavir preached in Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit, the language of common people of that time.
• Early Jain Āgamas and many later texts were therefore composed in different Prakrit forms (Ardhamāgadhī, Śaurasenī, Mahārāṣṭrī, etc.).
• Aim: so that normal listeners (not only scholars) could understand dharma.

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2. Major Jain Scriptural Groups in Prakrit

(A) Śvetāmbara Canon (Āgamas)

Most Śvetāmbara Āgamas are in Ardhamāgadhī / related Prakrit:

1. Aṅga Āgamas

- Example: Ācāranga Sūtra, Sūtrakṛtāṅga, Uttarādhyayana, Daśavaikālika. - Content: conduct of monks, vows, philosophy, life of Mahavir, etc.

1. Upāṅga, Chedasūtra, Mūlasūtra, Cūlikā

- Include many Prakrit texts on rules, stories, meditation, karma, etc.

1. Prakīrṇaka-sūtras (miscellaneous texts)

- Short Prakrit works on practical and devotional topics, often in verse. ( jainknowledge.com)

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(B) Important Prakrit Narrative & Devotional Texts

1. Paumacariya (Paumacariu) – by Ācārya Vimala-sūri

- Early Jain Ramayana in Prakrit. - Presents Rama (Padma) as a Jain Baladeva who follows ahiṁsā and finally takes dīkṣā. ( jainknowledge.com)

1. Stotras and Sūtras in daily use

Many popular prayers are in Prakrit, e.g.: - Navkār Mantra (ṇamo arihantāṇaṃ… ) ( jainknowledge.com) - Logassa Sūtra – praising the 24 Tirthankaras. ( jainknowledge.com) - Uvasaggaharam Stotra – in Prakrit/Ardhamāgadhī, dedicated to Pārśvanāth for removal of obstacles. ( jainknowledge.com) - Javanti Cheyaiṁ Sūtra, Tikhuto Path, Ichchhāmi Khamāsamāṇo etc., all short Prakrit sūtras used in pūjā, pratikramaṇ, forgiveness, and protection. ( jainknowledge.com)

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3. Digambara Side and Prakrit

• Digambaras hold that original Āgamas (in Prakrit) were lost very early.
• But many of their important later scriptures are based on that tradition and use mixed Prakrit/Sanskrit; examples include early layers of Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama and Kaṣāyapāhuda (with large commentaries), and many Prakrit gāthās quoted in Digambara works. ( jainknowledge.com)

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4. Types of Themes in Prakrit Jain Literature

• Śrāvaka & monk conduct – vows, daily discipline, fasting, pratikramaṇ.
• Philosophy – soul (jīva), karma, leshyā, guṇasthāna, right faith–knowledge–conduct.
• Narratives (carita, purāṇa) – lives of Tirthankaras, śalākā-puruṣas (great beings), like Jain Rāmāyaṇa, Jain Mahābhārata stories. ( jainknowledge.com)
• Devotional hymns – stotras to Arihant, Siddha, Tirthankaras, Yaksha–Yakshiṇīs. ( jainknowledge.com)
• Miscellaneous (Prakīrṇakas) – renunciation, four refuges, vows, practical guidance. ( jainknowledge.com)

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5. Study Today

• Many of these Prakrit texts now have Hindi/English translations while keeping the original Prakrit, so students can read both together. ( jainknowledge.com)

You can read simple explanations of several Prakrit Jain sūtras and stotras here