Chandonushasan

SR No.: 090113
Original Sutra Author: Hemchandracharya
Author: H D Velankar
Publisher: Singhi Jain Shastra Shiksha Pith Mumbai
Publication Year: 1961
Total Pages: 444
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 9 MB

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INTRODUCTION
beginning of a Sandhi and at the end of a Kadavaka (dhruvam syāt iti). In addition to this general definition of a Ghattā and a Chaddanikā, Svayambhū gives seven kinds of Chaddanikās and three kinds of Ghattās in the last chapter of his work, where he also mentions that there are many kinds of Paddhadikās and Gītis. Out of the seven kinds of the Chaddanikā, six are Ardhasama Catuspadis, while one is an Ardhasama Satpadi. Among the three Ghattās two are Sarvasama Catuspadis, one with 12 Mātrās in a Pāda and the other with 16, divided into 4 Bhaganas. The third Ghattā is an Ardhasama Catuspadi. Svayambhū then defines a Paddhaờikā as a Sama Catuşpadi having 16 Mātrās in a Pāda and further says at Svayambdūchandas 8.15, that each pair of two Pādas has a separate Yamaka and a Kadavaka is formed with 8 such pairs. An illustration of the Kadavaka is given at 8.20.6-9. Among the metres which may be used as a Ghattă at the beginning of a Sandhi, Svayambhū also mentions the Dvipadi with 28 Mātrās in each of its four Pādas, Gāthā, Adilā, Mātrā and Paddhadikā, which last virtually amounts to the Pādākulaka of the Mātrāsamaka group.
32. As regards the contribution of Hemacandra to Sanskrit and Prākrit Prosody, we find that he has taken into consideration all the important deliberations on the topic by his predecessors, and given an authorititive, systematic and selective account of these in his Chandonusāsana. He discloses an acquantance with the works of Virahānka, Svayambhū and Rājasekhara among others and clearly defines the respective spheres of Sanskrit, Prākrit and Apabhraíba metres. Jānāśrayi had treated all metres as Sanskrit metres ; Virahānka treated them as Prākrit ones and accordingly wrote his treaties in the Prākrit language. Svayambhū distinguished between the Prākrit and the Apabhramsa metres and also wrote his treatise in Prākrit; Rājasekhara closely followed Svayambhū, but wrote in Sanskrit. Unfortunately, Rājasekhara's work is not available except its last chapter ; but from this it seems that he did not give illustrations for the metres which he defined. Hemacandra composed his Chandonusāsana in Sanskrit Sūtras, accompanied by a short commentary in Sanskrit; in addition he gives illustrations for every metre, having himself composed them in such a manner that they contain the name of the metre which is illustrated. In these illustrations Hemacandra employs the particular language to which the metre 46 See Svayambhuchandas (f. n. 44 ) 5.1; Hemacandra, Chandonusāsana 6. 1.