Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 191

AYARANGA : PADHAMA SUTA-KHANDHA, PADHAMA AJJHAYANA.... 173 contact with the original forms of the ancient Prakrit when the community of monks was unable to understand the original forms of the language (Ardhamagadhi) Acarya Abhayadeva, Acarya Malayagiri etc., found it necessary to change old forms into the new or younger forms and it is they who have transformed old forms. Whatever be the circumstances responsible for the changes, the fact remains that the original (Ardhamagadhi) language of the Svetambara Jain Canon is greatly influenced by the standard Maharastri Prakrit. Now, it is an admitted fact that the Jain Agama texts are not sabdapradhana but artha-pradhana. The Jains have tried to preserve the true meaning (artha) and not the original words (sabda) of Mahavira : अत्थं भासइ अरिहा सुत्तं गंथंति गणहरा णिउणं / (Mahavira promulgates the true meaning of scriptures in the course of his religious discourses, and his Ganadharas--immediate disciples or apostles (chief disciples) undertake the task of arranging them in the sutra-form--in the form of scriptures). If we remember this fact, we need not bother or worry too much about the nature of word forms--whether older or younger as both convey the original true meaning. Looked at from this point of view any attempt to restore old Ardhamagadhi would amount to a futile exercise. The above view is, it would seem, one-sided. The problem has another side too. From among the forty-five texts of the Jain agama some like the Acaranga, Sutrakrtanga are decidedly the oldest which retain older forms of the ancient Prakrit to a considerable extent. By adopting modern tools and methods of research and generally accepted principles of text editing we can fairly certainly hope to restore the ancient Prakrit-Ardhamagadhi-in which Mahavira spoke and his immediate disciples-the Ganadharas-tried to preserve his discourses Dr. K. R. Chandra, a veteran Prakrit scholar, has devoted a number of years to a study in depth of this problem of restoration of the ancient PrakritOld Ardhamagadhi-in which Mahavira gave his religious discourses and his Ganadharas embodied them. In the work under review Chandra presents, after carefully applying the principles of restoration evolved by him, the restored text of Ayaramga I. 1 by way of a sample demonstration. Chandra divides his work into the following six sections : Section I : consists of Introduction both in English and Hindi. (pp. 1-12)