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ces that is of Eastern Magadhi, South-western Maharastri and western adjoining S'aursenī.32
Two hypotheses can be laid down for the question why Ardhamagadhì came to bear such characteristics:
(A) That Mahavīra deliberately preached in the mixed dialect with a view that such a dialect would gain wider audience for his creed.
(B) Another hypothesis that the language during the calamitous vicissitudes of the Jain canon suffered much linguistically before it was taken down to writing.
It may be noted however that the activities of Mahavira were confined to the country of Behar and at the most to the western extremity of Benaras. Thus there was no ground for him to adopt deliberately the mixed dialect for his teachings. Hence the first hypothesis is of little value. The second hypothesis has more evidence to back it. That is as under:
(i ) As we saw in § 3., the attempt was made to remould and give proper shape and form to the Jain Canon at the councils of Pataliputra, and particularly in the Western towns like Mathurā and Vallabhi. It is well
32. Hem. VIII, iv. 302. stoi sittelali
