Jain Journal 1989 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 21

Apabhramsa Literature
H. C. BHAYANI
General Character
In a glaring contrast with Sanskrit and Prakrit literatures, Apabhramsa literature in so far as it is available, has an overwhelmingly Jaina character. Buddhist, Brahminical (known indirectly and through references and sparse citations) and non-sectarian contributions seem to have been dwarfed by the rich and varied Jaina contribution. The Jainas can claim Apabhramsa as their special domain. This, of course, is a transitional picture, as the activity of unearthing and bringing to light Apabhramsa texts is hardly fifty years old and so far it has never been undertaken with any vigour.
Aside from its predominantly religious tone, another outstanding trait of the discovered Apabhramsa literature is its almost exclusively poetic character. Bhamaha and Dandin did know of some Apabhramsa prose tales, but no prose work even of a modest length is preserved to us, and this creates grave doubts about any vigorous prose tradition in that literature.
Apabhramsa Language
Literary Apabhramsa, like the literary Prakrits, was considerably 'artificial'. It was a special language, which, though strongly dominated by Sanskrit and maintaining dominant features of the ‘Prakrit' stage in its phonology, attempted to a limited degree to adapt its morphology and
pressions (and, to a slight extent, its lexicon) to the constantly changing spoken idioms of the period. This fact of being continuously open to reinforcement through an undercurrent of living speech forms, slowly worked for undermining the rigidity that Apabhramsa had attained as a highly standardized literary language, fostered in the linguistic surrounding of centuries-old aristocratic and stylized traditions.
The circumstances surrounding the origin of Apabhramsa language and literature are very much shrouded in obscurity. The best part of the early literature is all lost. We have no means to trace the course of Apabhramsa evolution from its beginnings. The literary types and