Jain Journal 1990 10

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

Page 16

OCTOBER, 1990
from the historical and comparative point of view as far as the Prakrit language is concerned.
(6) Kosa :
As regards the Prakrit dictionaries (abhidhānas/košas) a good historial and etymological dictionaries of Prakrit language is a longstanding desideratum. Recently Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute has undertaken a project on the line and whether any volume of that dictionary will come out shortly is our expectation only. Haragovinda Das T. Seth's Paiasaddamahannavo though good for all practical purposes, is neither historical nor etymological in the real sense of the term. Abhidhānarājendra (1910-25) an encyclopaedia on Jainology in seven big volumes of quarto size with double columns by Rajendra Suri can be updated. There are many Prakrit dictionaries (košas) in manuscript forms and these Prakrit kośas are to be edited for this project of Prakrit dictionary, as is done in the case of Historical Sanskrit Dictionary by the Deccan College, Poona.
(c) Chandah :
In metre, there are plenty of Prakrit books, and some of them are very old. H.D. Velankar has edited quite a lot of books on Prakrit metres, such as Svayambhūcchandah by Svayambhū, Vrttajātisamuccaya of Virahanka, Gāthālaksana of Nanditadhya, and Kavidarpana of an unknown author. All these works are not very old, but the metres they have described are of old nature. At a later time the Chandānuśāsana of Hemacandra (1088-1172 A.D.) is a good work on Prakrit metre (including Sanskrit). In the 15th century Ratnasekhara wrote a book on Prakrit metre, named Chandahkoša in Apabhramsa. Though very small in size (74 verses only), this book covers a variety of Prakrit metres. The Prākrta-Pingala of Pingalacarya, though very late, contains a large number of Prakrit metres including illustrations. Though two editions of this book are published (Asiatic Society and Prakrit Text Society), this book needs further study as far as the development of Prakrit metres are concerned.
It is true that by this time several works on Prakrit metres are published, but a historical research on Prakrit metres is still a desideratum. The time has come now to have a thorough study on Prakrit metres. The metres used in Several Prakrit kā vyas, lyrics etc. are to be studied thoroughly. A dictionary of Prakrit metres may be a welcome idea,