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* Jaina Shauraseni is a sub-variety of Shauraseni in which ancient texts of Digambara Jainas
are written.
Maharashtri is found in many non-Jaina epics and also in the metrical lyrics in Sanskrit dramas. The language 'Marathi' was developed slowly over centuries from the Maharsshtri Prakrit.
"Jaina Maharashtri is a language-variety created and used in huge narrative and biographical literature by Jaina authors. This peculiar language was intelligible to the people residing Mahasrashtra, Gujarata, Madhyapradesha, Uttara-pradesha and Rajastana for nearly one thousand
years (5th Cen.A.D. up to 15th Cen.A.D.) Shvetambara Jaina Acharyas produced religious, philosophical didactic literature in various literary forms viz. narratives, biographies, legendary histories, epics, eulogies etc.
All the above-mentioned languages developed linguistic changes by 10" Cen.A.D. and gave rise to Apabhramsha languages. We will see one or two examples.
i) From Magadhi Apabhramsha - Assamese, Oriya and Bengali ii) From Maharashtri Apabhramsha - Marathi and its sub-dialects etc.
Some Salient Features of Prakrit Literature i) The Reflection of Society and Culture
The Prakrits were closely associated with the common people of the society hence the literature of Prakrit depicted a different picture of society and culture from the literature of Sanskrit. It is a comprehensive picture of social and cultural aspects of the people, not merely of the ‘naagara' or elite class. The heroes and heroines belong to the ordinary class of the society e.g. goldsmiths, coppersmiths, potters, weavers, confectioners, fishermen, merchants, monks, nuns, courtesans, middle-class and low-class housewives, merchants, thieves, beggars and so on. This literature represent the festival, celebrations, fares, religious gatherings, clubs, vows and rituals, pilgrims, food-offerings, customs and beliefs of the common people of the society. Indeed the realistic picture of the society helps us to fathom the true Indian aspirations'.
ii) The relation of Prakrit and Jainaism
Approximately 80% of Prakrit literature is written by Jaina authors. The language adoptability of Jainas is stunning. Jaina Acharyas wrote in all varieties of Prakrit as well as in Sanskrit. Their ancient Prakrit texts include tenets, doctrines, stories, analogies and a variety of subjects like philosophy, history, geography, astrology, moral conduct, logic, science of omens and many other subjects.
iii) Prakrits in Inscriptions, Sanskrit Dramas and Poetics
Prakrit was largely employed in ancient epigraphy. They were meant for the common people of the society. So they were written in regional languages and not in Sanskrit. Ashokan inscriptions, Hathi-gumpha inscriptions and Nasik inscriptions are found in Prakrit language written in Brahmi or Kharoshti scripts.
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