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studies and the study of regional languages. By virtue of this, the origin of national language, Hindi will be understood in a right perspective.
Since Mahāvīra preached in Prakrit language, the language of the Āgamas is Prakrit. Hence canonical writing and the earliest commentaries are written in Prakrit language. It will not be out of place to mention that Mahāvīra was desirous of making the values of life accessible to the masses of the people, so he adopted Prakrit for the propagation of ethicospiritual ways of life and
living.
Now the question is what is the origin of Prakrit adopted by Mahāvīra? In reply it may be said that Mahāvīra's Prakrit is derived from the first stage of Prakrit, from which Vedic language and the Pāņini's language have been derived. Thus first stage of Prakrit language is the mother of all the Āryan languages of India.
To say that Prakrit is derived from Pāṇini's Samskrta is not correct, since we find many parallels in Vedic language and Prakritconstructions. Some examples may be given to show Prakritism in Vedas; as for example, in the Vedas we find Kutha, Dūlabha, Ucca, Nicā, Dūdabha etc. In Vedic language is seen in the nominative case masculine singular number like Prakrit so, Samvatsaro etc. Just as in the Vedic language, so in Prakrit the Genitive Case is used in place of Dative case. Besides, in Prakrit plural number is used in place of Dual number and this tendency can also be traced in the Vedas.
This goes to prove that the origin of Prakrit of the Mahāvīra era is neither Vedic language nor classical Sanskrit of Pāņini, but it has come to us from the First Stage of Prakrit, from which Vedic language and classical Sanskrit have been derived. Thus Vākapatirāja is correct when he says in the Gaudavaho that all the Aryan languages have come down to us from Prakrit.
Thus it can be said that Vedic language, classical Sanskrit, Prakrit of Mahāvīra's era, Apabhramsa, provincial languages like Gujarati, Sindhi etc. and Hindi the national language of India have gradually developed from the First Stage of Prakrit.
Now it is intelligible that Mahāvīra's Sojourn in the Arhat state of life inspired him to preach in the universal language used by the masses of people, though Vedic language and the classical Sanskrit preceded him. This may be styled language renascence, which supported the uplift of the masses. The neglect of the common man ended with this attitude of Mahāvīra. It is of capital importance to note that the Jaina Ācāryas continued to compose their works in Prakrit up to 13th cent. A.D; namely the Āgamic commentaries, the metaphysico-spiritual works of Kundakunda,
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0
