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अपभ्रंश भारती 7
3TROR 1995
On Early Apabhramsa
- Harivallabh C. Bhayani
1. By the Seventh century A.D., Apabhramsa was established as a language of literature besides Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Paisāci (Bhamaha, Dandin). The grammatical tradition as represented by Hemacandra's treatment of Apabhramsa takes it to be one language like Sanskrit and Prakrit (Prakrit in the sense of Mahārāștri). The occasional observations of grammarians such as Namisādhu and Bhoja about the varieties of Apabhramsa relate to its use, with a touch of some regional dialects and occurring in some minor compositions, as a piece of novelty. This is illustrated in Namisadhu's commentary on Rudrata's Kavyalamkāra (II 11-12) and in Bhoja's Srngaraprakāśa (pp. 102-103).
From the linguistic point of view, however, the language of the earlier period of Apabhramsa (6th to 12th centuries A.D.) was standardized but not yet uniform, open as it was to the continuous impact of regional spoken dialects, besides the influence of Sanskrit and Prakrit. Grammarians have also taken note of some varying features of Apabhramsa. As the Apabhramsa works of the first two centuries are all lost and since the manuscripts of the earliest
