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जैन विद्या एवं प्राकृत : अन्तरशास्त्रीय अध्ययन
Over the last two thousand years several languages have developed and faded out in North India and the Jains have written in most of these. It might be pointed out that in their zeal to acquaint the community with its traditions, the Jains continued to study and write in languages, even when they ceased to be in popular use or when they became the preserve of a handful of literati. Thus in the seventeenth century, besides assiduously applying themselves to the learning of Sanskrit, they were the only people who kept the knowledge of Prakrit and Apabhramsa languages alivega, so that their religious heritage did not fall into oblivion. Admittedly, the number of writings in Prakrit and Apabhramsa was few : but they were the only people who wrote in these languages. In contrast, their writings in Sanskrit were more poolific : their continuo ing interest in Sanskrit language is explained by many reasons.
In the seventeenth century, Sanskrit was the language of culture and the key to higher education amongst the Hindus besides endowing the person concerned with high social prestige. The Jain scholars never considered their education complete unless they had mastered Sanskrit because it enabled them to study subjects like astronomy, grammar, logic, philosophy etc. Moreover, mastery over Sanskrit was essential for studying numerous religious texts and works by preceding Jain scholars, whose contribution in the enrichment of the language is considerable.3 Furthermore, the Jain teachers were freque: tly called upon to debate and discuss with Hindu religious leaders the tenets and philosophy of their faith.4
Along with the Hindus, the Jains helped to keep alive knowledge of Sanskrit alives; and in the process, they enriched certain branches 3. Dhirendra Varma and Brajeshwar Varma (eds.) Hindi Sahitya
(in Hindi), Vol. II, Prayag, 1959, pp. 472, 483; The Digamber Jains continued to use Apabhramsa till 1643 A. D. Devendra Kumar Shastri, Bhavisayatakatha Tatha A pabhransa Kathakavya, Varanasi, 1970. Manikyachandra wrote Satvasna
kaha in 1634. 3a. Dr. Johrapurkar and Kasliwal, Veer Shasan ke Prabhavak
Acharya, Delhi 1975 pp. 181, 212-13 4. Ibid. p. 212 5. Dr. G. N. Sharma, Social Life In Medieval Rajasthan, Agra,
1968, p. 255
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