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Ardha Magadhi is a mixed dialect in which Lord Mahavira preached his doctrine. As Magadhi, the language of Magdha was not intelligible to the people speaking diverse dialects, Mahavira introduced elements of other dialects for preaching purpose. This dialect was called Ardha Magadhi in plying thereby that it was not fully Magadhi but that it contains a greater element of Magadhi combined with smaller elements of other dialects. The mixture was used by Mahavira and his class of men not only for ordinary purpose but for preaching alone.. Jacobi calls this language Jaina Prakrit, since 45 scriptures of the Jainas are composed in this language.
The present book Ardha Magadhi Reader contains 13 extracts in Ardhamagadhi, taken from authortative Jain literature both in prose and verse. Accompanied by English translation and footnotes they furnish as easier course for the beginner who want to study Jaina Prakrit literature at its source.
As a preliminary to this study the book is prefied by a long introduction which is subdivided into several sections which relates to grammar, language and literature, history of the canon and an account of this Siddhanta. It includes Bibliography of the Texts, Grammar, Readers, Dictionaries, Histories of Literature and General works. It sheds light on the prominent Jaina Acaryas of the time and gives an exahaustive account of the mss in the Jaina Bhandars in the country.
The book is documented with (1) an Index of words explained in foot-notes and (2) index of important words and subject.
I.B.C.
Jain Education Intemational
