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Jain pilgrimage centers are spread in every part and state of India. For Jains every section of the country has been pious. In terms of linguistic varieties also Jains have had a liberal attitude. They have never nurtured any prejudice against any language. Jain Tīrthankaras gave their sermons in Ardhamāgadhi Prakrit, the then popular language of the masses. The eleven principle disciples of Bhagavāna Mahāvīra were top ranking scholars of Sanskrit language in that period. They compiled the twelve-part canon (Dvadaśāngi) in Ardhamāgadhī, the common man's language. The later Jain ācāryas too gave their discourses and writings in the local Prakrit languages of the areas they were covering during their itinerant life. Innumerable Jain scriptures were written in almost all Indian languages including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Mahārāștri Prakrit, Sauraseni Prakrit, Ardhamāgadhi, Apabhraíía, Hindi, and Sanskrit. The writings of Jain ācāryas covered a wide range of subjects including spiritualism, popular literature, medicine, astrology, veterinary science (particularly about horses and elephants), gemology, poetry, drama, campū (combination of prose and poetry), history, hagiography, etc. By giving recognition to folk languages Jains helped them gain national recognition and remove shyness of their authors. It also brought Jain doctrines within the reach of common man and made these languages powerful means of communication. To the field of linguistics it was a great contribution of Jain ācāryas to bring folk languages to the status of literary languages. To shift away from the dominance of Sanskrit and enhance the prestige of folk languages was a revolutionary step taken by Jain ācāryas in the field of literature. For this all these languages will remain ever indebted to them as well as Jainism.
Jainism is predominantly a spiritual religion. It believes that every soul has the potential to become a supreme soul (Paramātmā). The souls suffering a variety of miseries like birth and death, ailment and anguish, infliction and afflictions, etc. in various realms and genuses are themselves responsible for that. Only those who strive for right knowledge, perception, and conduct and take to the path of truth are able to become a supreme soul. Every soul is endowed with the right, potential, and energy to become a supreme soul.
Jainism is based on equality of life. Accordingly all beings are equal with reference to conscious energy (caitanya); the potential of becoming a supreme soul is same in all beings. Every being has the
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