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Contribution of Jainas to Sanskrit and Prakrit Literature
Unfortunately, we do not have Prakrit texts properly edited, which give room to many doubts about their authenticity particularly the Ardhamāgadhi texts, containing Jaina's doctrines and dogmas, do not represent the language, they belong to. Unless the texts are corrected, we cannot make the grammar of the language of the text authentic. Many Mss. are waiting for torch bearers. An expedition should be launched to bring them to light. All important Prakrit texts should be critically edited so as to ascertain the actual form of their language. Prof. K. R. Chandra's expedition to bring the extant Ardhamāgadhi language to its actual form shall be a landmark in this process.
These are the problems and solutions of development of Prakrit studies in modern age.
Annotations :
* Presented in the National Seminar on Jain Studies : Appraisal and Possibilities at P.
V. Res. Institute, Varanasi, 5-7 April, 1998. 1. Originally written in German and English, Tr. by Prof. Subhadra Jha, Pub. Motilal
Banarasidas, Delhi 1981. 2. Published by Gujarat University Granth Nirman Board, Ahmedabad-19. 3. Pub. D, N. Moghe, D. A. School and College Book Stall, Kolhapur 4th ed. 1951. 4. Ed. H. R. Kapadia, Pub. Devchand Lalbhai Jain Pustakoddhar Fund, Surat 1933.
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