Fragments of the earliest Eastern Prakrit Grammarians

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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Fragments of the earliest Eastern Prakrit Grammarians*
(Śakalya, Māṇḍavya, Kohala and Kapila)
DR. SATYA RANJAN BANERJEE
A
T the top of the Eastern School mention may be made of Śakalya, Maṇḍavya, Kohala and Kapila, the earliest reference to whom as Prakrit grammarians is found in the works of Purusottama1, Ramatarkavägisa1 and Mārkaṇḍeya1, who occasionally adopt their views in their treatises of Prakrit grammar. Markaṇḍeya, while referring, with warm admiration, to his predecessors on whom he depended mentions not only Sakalya and Kohala but also Bhara, Vararuci, Bhamaha and Vasantarāja in the preamble of his grammar PrākṛtaSarvasva.2 Māṇḍavya is mentioned only by Rāmatarkavagīśa. Kapila is referred to by both Rāmaśarma and Mārkaṇḍeya. As all these authors belong to the eastern school, it is, therefore, possible to surmise
Paper Read at the 22nd session of the All India Oriental Conference, 1960.
1
For all these references, vide Appendix.
2 Sakalya - Bharata - Kohala - Vararuci - Bhamaha - Vasantarājādyaiḥ/ proktan granthān nānālakṣyāņi ca nipuņam alokya// avyākīrņam visadam sāram svalpākṣara-grathitapadyam/Mārkaṇḍeya-kavindraḥ Prākṛta-ṣarvasvam ārabhate//