Ang Sahitya Manan aur Mimansa

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain, Suresh Sisodiya
Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthan

Page 327

Linguistic Study of the Canonical Literature (Amga) with special reference to the vowels and single consonants
Dr Jagat Ram Bhattacharyya
Amga canonical literature holds an important place in Jain literature. Gautama and the other Ganadharas have edited and compiled the sermon of Lord Mahavira preached throughout his life. And according to the Svetambara canons the language is known to be the Ardhamȧgadhi.
Ardhamȧgadhi-A Language
Before to discuss on the Ardhamägadhi as a language, the significance of the name of Ardhamagadhi is found important here. In the fourth Amga text-Samaväyänga, the Ardhamagadhi language is acknowledged thus- ãäbhagavam ca nam addhamȧgahie bhasäe dhammam äikkhai/så vi ya nam ariya-m-aṇāriyam duppaya cauppaya miya pasu pakkhi sarisivāṇam appappano hiyasiva suhadaya bhāsattäe parinamaiââ/ääThe Lord propagated the law in the Ardhamagadhi Language-this peace-happiness-and-bliss-giving Ardhamagadhi undergoes modifications when it is spoken by the Aryans, the non-Aryans, the bipeds, the quadrupeds, the wild and tamed animals, the birds and the wormsââ: In the Bagbhata Alamkara tilaka (1.1) it is said about the Ardhamägadhi- sarvärdhamägadhim sarva bhásåsu pariņāmiņim/sårviyām sarvato vacam sārvajnim pranidadhämahe. It means we salute vac that is fully Ardhamăgadhi and which modifies herself into all the different Language and is perfect and omniscient.
In the Prajñāpanāsutra, the Aryans are categorised into nine classes, in which the sixth class is mentioned for bhäsäriya, those who are Aryans by language. It is asked about them-se kim tam Bhäsäriya?-what is meant by ãAryans by speech? Answer is thus-bhāsāriyä je nam addhamägahae bhāsäe bhāsanti jattha vi ya bambhi livi pavattai-Aryans by speech are they who speak the Ardhamägadhi language and who use the Brahmi script in writing. In the Aupapātikasutra, too, like the Samavayangasútra, it is mentioned
nam