ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 152

Mah vra gave them the most important task of gamic preparation. My contention is that just as the seeds of Laukika (Classical) Sa skrta are inherent in the Vedic language, similarly the seeds of Prakrta constructions may be easily discerned in the Vedic language. Thus the Vedic language is the precursor of Laukika Sa skrta as well as Prākrta constructions. Thus to say that Prākrta is derived from Laukika Sa skrta is an improper approach to the history of language development in India. I may, therefore, conclude by saying that the study of Vedic language will constitute an all-embracing foundation of Indian culture. Unfortunately India is missing this aspect of culture and it must be remembered that the study of language is basic to the study of any culture. This will open the way to Prākta and Apabhra sa 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 Mah vra preached in Prāksta language, the language of the gamas is Prākta. Hence canonical writing and the earliest commentaries are written in Prākta language. It will not be out of place to mention that Mah vra was desirous of making the values of life accessible to the masses of the people, so he adopted Prākta for the propagation of ethicospiritual ways of life and living.
Now the question is what is the origin of Prākrta adopted by Mah vra? In reply it may be said that Mah v ra's Prākta is derived from the first stage of Prākrta, from which Vedic language and the Panini's language have been derived. Thus first stage of Prākrta language is the mother of all the ryan languages of India.
To say that Prākta is derived from Panini's Sa skrta is not correct, since we find many parallels in Vedic language and Pr krta constructions. Some examples may be given to show Pr krtism in Vedas; as for example, in the Vedas we find Kutha, D labha, Ucc, Nic, D dabha etc. In Vedic language o is seen in the nominative case masculine singular number like Pr krta So, Sa vatsaro etc. Just as in the Vedic language, so in Pr krta the Genitive Case is used in place of Dative case. Besides, in Pr krta 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 Pr krta of the Mah vra era is neither Vedic language nor classical Sa skrta of Panini, but it has come to us from the First Stage of Pr krta, from which Vedic language and classical Sa skrta have been derived. Thus V kapatir ja is correct when he says in the Gaudavaho that all the ryan languages have come down to us from Pr krta.
Thus it can be said that Vedic language, classical Sa skrta, Pr krta of Mah vra's era, Apabhra sa, provincial languages like Gujarati, Sindhi etc. and Hindi the national language of India have gradually developed from the First Stage of Pr krta.
Now it is intelligible that Mah vra'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 Sa skrta 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 Mah vra. It is of capital importance to note that the Jaina C ryas continued to compose their works in Prākta up to 13th cent. A.D;namely the gamic commentaries, the metaphysico-spiritual works of Kundakunda, logical works of Siddhasena and Devasena, ethical works of Vattakera and Haribhadra etc. Besides, there are numerous Critras in Prākta that describe the life of individual Trtha kara such as Rsabha,
antin tha, Nemin tha, P r va and Mah vra. Jainas own abundant narrative literature in Prākrta. All this shows that Jainas have to their credit voluminous Prākta literature, but unfortunately the study of Prāksta language has practically disappeared from India. What will be its consequence is a matter of great concern for the custodians of Indian culture.
From what has been said above it may be rightly inferred that the Second Stage of Pr krta originating from Sa skrta, Mahāvīra used the First Stage of Prākta of the pre-vedic times for his deliverances and Ga adharas prepared the gamic literature from it. In contravention to this, it was considered by some scholars that the Pr krta of Mah v ra's times is subservient to Panini's Sa skrta. Consequently they made the learning of Pr krta through Sa skrta, a compulsory part of learning Pr krta. This made the whole thing cumbersome and unnatural, which resulted in the gradual
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