Jinamanjari 1995 09 No 12

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 77

Jaina Commentaries On Sanskrit Grammar Dr. Bhagchandra Jain, Nagpur University, India
Jainacaryas in India have used all languages and literature - ancient ones like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tamil, Kannada, Telagu and modern languages like Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi to express their views on different core of learning. Thus the works of Jainas have become a very important and essential component, without which Indian philosophy and culture becomes incomplete.
Panini (about 5th Centuary B.C.) composed the uncomparable "Astadhyayi" on Sanskrit grammar. It was made comprchensible by commentaries and commontaries on commantaries. In this regard Jains savants contributed so any commantaries of high quality that could start many independant schools among themselves.
Pre-Panini Jaina Sanskrit Grammar
The tradition has that some Jaina Sanskrit grammatical works were prevelant before Panini. Drastiva, the 12th part of the Anga literature of Jain religion consisted of 24 Purvas which were divided into Prabhrartas, of which the sabdaprabhrtas (Saddapalu da) is frequently mentioned.? Purvas are said to have been written in Sanskrit. It is said that the Batyapruvada Purva had discussed the Sthana and Prayaina words with their definitions and examples. The Purvas traditionally belonged to Parsva time (C. 877 B.C.) and the Angas are the collective sermons of Mahavira, and the Purvás were included into Drastivada which is said to have been lost.
Bopadeva, the author of the Moghadabodha mentions some eight Vaiyakaranas, Indra, Candra, Kasakrtsna, Apisali, Sakatayana, Panini, Amara and Jainendra. Jaina tradition also acknowledges Indra as the first Vaiyakarana who composed the Aindra vyakarana at the instance of Mahavira. Kielhorn collected such references and accepted his existence during the period of Mahavira. Burnell also studied the
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