Scientific Contents in Prakrta Canons

SR No.: 001670
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 608
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Science, & Religion
File Size: 9 MB

Page 43

Prāksta Bhāṣā : 21
forms of Asokan Prākrtas. They also seem to be culminating points of the first period of Präkrtas. Many scholars have studied them and differentiated them. Bhāșa also followed Aśvaghosa later.
The other two forms obtained outside India are later developments of different forms of Prākrta. We need not go into details about them here. (d) Paiśāci and Cūlikā Paisāci Languages
It is now agreed that Piśāca was a tribe residing in northWest Indian region. The Paiśāci Prākrta is related with this tribe. The Culikā Paiśāci of Hemcandra seems to be a dialect of this form. It has many names including Bhūtabhāsā. It is an old Prākrta of a little later period than Pāli. It has a Sauraseni structure influenced by Samskrta together with languages of south and north-west regions of India including Käshgara, Gāndhāra and Turkey. It does not have any noticeable independent literature. It is found in the speeches of the actors of Hemcandran drama. It is said to be of many varieties and covers a wide area of the country. (2) Mahārāștri Prākrta
As the rame indicates, this form of Prākrta developed in the Maharashtra region, though it has a much larger area of its adherents. Many scholars have opined it to have developed after the Sauraseni form. This Prākrta is literarily very rich. It has both the forms : prose and poetry. Jacobi has called it Jaina Mahārāștri as large number of Jaina texts are written in this Prākrta. It has been influenced by Ardhamāgadhi and Sauraseni. It has attained a standard form. It is said to be the best of the Prākrtas. That is why this form has been the subject of Prākrta grammars with other forms assuming a secondary comparative nature. (f) Māgadhi and Ardhamāgadhi Prakrta
The native language of Magadha country or Bihar and eastern India of today has been called the Magadhan Prākrta.