________________
20
Hemchandracharya's Literary Accomplishment
But with its commentary the number of verses comes to ten thousand. This book has six sections. The first section pertains to the supreme God, the second, to gods, the third, to human beings, the fourth to lower animals, the fifth, the narakis (living beings in the hell), and the sixth, to ordinary words with a single meaning. Here etymoloical, mixed and idiomatic words are explained. Regarding his plan Hemchandracharya says in the initial verse:
प्रणिपत्याई तः सिद्धसाडगशष्यानुशासन
रुढयोगिकमिश्रआणां नाम्नां माला तनोम्यहम् ।। "I pay obeisance to Arhantas I expand the list of idiomatic etymological and mixed noun after 'sabdanushasan' has made its name."
Hemchandracharya's Literary Accomplishment 21 "Murdhavasikts'. Similarly if the father is a Sudra and the mother is a Brahmani, the Child's caste is 'Chandal'. Thus the information that this dictionary gives is also useful for sociological studies. Some of these words have come down to modern language and this makes the dictionary important, Hemchandracharya knew the importance of the knowledge of words and that is why he compiled this big dictionary of synonums. He himself states in the dictionary:
वक्तृत्वं च कवित्वं च विद्यातायाछ फले विदुः
शब्दज्ञानाद्यते तन्न ह्ययमप्युपपद्यते ।। "The wise people regard oratory as poetry as fruits of scholarship but these two cannot be accomplished without knowledge of words."
After compiling 'Abhidhanachintamani' Hemchandracharya who knew the importance of the knowledge of words compiled *Anekarthasamgrah'. 'Abhidanachintamani' is a dictionary of numerous words of the same meaning while *Anekarthasangrah' gives several meanings of the same word. For example, 'K'means Brahma, Atma, Ravi, Mayoor, Agni, Yam and Vayu. Thus *Abhidhanachintamani' and *Anekarthasamgrah' supplement each other. Divided in seven sections this dictionery contains 1829 verses. Its six sections
Useful to the science of words this book is equally necessary for the study of modern written languages. In order to make it perfect Hemchandracharya had made additions and alterations till the end. 'Abhidhanchintamani' won high regards of Sanskrit scholars. Historically it provided a lot of information. For example it gives very interesting information about seasons and weights and measures. It also gives information about cross-breed in Indian society. For example, if the father is a Brahmin and the mother is Kshatriya the child's caste is called
