Comprehensive Critical Dictionary of Prakrit Languages Volum 01

Author(s): A M Ghatage
Publisher: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

Page 6

PREFACE
The project of preparing and publishing a compre- a Dictionary of Frakrits'. This Note was widely circuhensive dictionary of the Prakrit languages, mainly lated among Indian and foreign scholars interested in based on the extensive Jain literature in Prakrit, was Prakrit studies, in order to elicit their opinions and first thought of by Shri N. K Firodia, Chairman of the suggestions. The plan also roughly indicated the time Sarmati-Teerth, an academic institute newly started required for the completion of the work : three to four by a group of Jains in Pune city, with the inten- years for the collection of material and about ten years tion of promoting Prakrit studies, which were generally for the preparation and publication of the dictionary in neglected so far. They approached me in connection about three volumes. It was pointed out that, like with the planning of the academic work of the Institute. other works of similar pature, the dictionary would be A meeting was held in Poonis for this purpose at the published in the form of fascicules. end of 1986, and, out of the two essential requirements of Prakrit studies, namely, a detailed comparative gra- For the implementation of the Project, a small mmar of all the Prakrit languages and a comprehensive urit of workers was set up at the Institute, which and critical dictionary, ihe latter was chosen for early consisted, besides the General Editor, of three to four execution, because of its greater necessity and useful- editorial assistants, and the extraction of words from the ness. During the ast fifty years, the urgency of such Prakrit works was carried on with their help. An ipa work was often voiced in various seminars and confer- dependent library unit was also created, most of the ences, and the Prakrit Text Society also had thought of books having been taken from the library of the such a plan. But no adequate arrangment could be rade Institute. Additional books were borrowed from other to bring such a project in practice.
libraries in Poona, some were purchased, a few were got
xeroxed, and some were donated to the project. At The authorities of the Saumati-Teerth asked me to
present there are about 500 original works in the undertake the work of planning and executing this dic
library of the Project, which are used for extraction of tionary-project, which made it necessary for me to come
material, and about 300 secondary works dealing with the to Poona from my native place, a small village in the
Prakrit larguages and Jain literature, religion, philosophy district of Kolhapur where I had lived since my retire.
and a few other related topics. It is felt that this ment as the Chief Editor of the Sanskrit Dicticuary
collection will be adequate for the dictionary, and the Project of the Deccan College Post-graduate and Research
addition of recent publications will be continued. Institute, Poona, in 1983. To avoid delay, it was also thought necessary to establish and locate the project After the extraction of material had reached An at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona, advanced stage and the excerpts had reached the number because of its reputation as one of the foremost Josti- of four lakbs, the material was alphabetized and made tutes working in the field of Indological studies and ready for the editorial work. also because of its excellent library and press faci.ities. With a view to enabling the Bhandarkar Institute to In 1989 a detailed questionnaire on some 80 speciundertake the proect, Shri N. K. Firodia, Chairman of fic points pertaining to 11 main aspects of the mechanism the Sanmati-Teerth, made to the Institute an initial grant of dictionary-making was prepared and circulated among of Rs. five lakhs for this purpose.
Prakrit scholars in India and outside, and a fairly good
response was received particularly from foreiga scholars Accordingly the work on the project was begun at
showing keen interest in such a work. In 1991, a the Institute on the 1st of April 1987, when I carne to
specimen forme of eight pages was prepared and again Poona, and took charge as Honorary General Editor of
circulated among scholars. The numerous suggestions the Dictionary.
thereby received having been duly taken into account, A detailed plan of the proposed dictionary indicat- the methodology of the dictionary was finalised. The ing the nature and scope of the work, the method to actual printing of the dictionary was begun in April be adopted for its implementation, the problems involved 1992, and the first fascicule of the dictionary containing in it, and other relevant matters was prepared and in- & detailed introduction and the necessary ancillary corporated into 'A Note on the Nature and Scope of material is yow being published,