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In Search of the Original Ardhamāgadhi
K.R. Chandra According to Pischel (577) the usage of kattu or other forms with the (affix) termination -ttu are found in a number of Āgama texts, such as the Ācārānga, the Sūtrakrtānga, the Uttarādhyanana, the Daśavaikālika, the Vyākhyāprajñapti, the Vipākasūtra, the Aupapātikasūtra, etc. Over and above the kațțu usage Pischel has quoted other usages also, viz., avahattu, āhattu, samāhattu, sāhattu, etc.
From the point of view of the phonetic change the termination -ttu' has changed to ttu'. The Absolutive Gerund form kattu of the root kr is found in the Ashokan inscriptions, like Separate Dhauli and Separate Jaugada inscriptions of the Eastern region. In other regions, -tu' (= ttu) in place of tu'(= ttu) occurs.
Is it not proved, on the basis of this usage, that the Ardhamāgadhī texts were composed in the Eastern region ?
The relation, of the above mentioned characteristics with reference to the language of the Ardhamāgadhī Āgama texts, as found with those of the language of the Ashokan period proves the antiquity of the Ardhamāgadhī language. And, the particular characteristics that are similar to those of the language of the Eastern region in Ashokan period, prove that the Ardhamāgadhi texts were composed in the Eastern India. The Jaina tradition too claims that many years prior to Ashok (i.e. in the 4th century B.C.) the First Redaction of the Duvālasmga-ganipidaga = dvādaśānga - ganipitaka i.e. the initial twelve Angas of the 45 Agama Texts was done in Pātaliputra (capital of the Magadha country). Do the archaic and peculiar usages, that are found in the Ardhamāgadhi language, not support the date and place of their origin ? Generally, the time of the origin of senior Agama texts is believed to be prior to that of the Pāțaliputrao Redaction.
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