Paumchariyam Part 2

Author(s): Vimalsuri, Punyavijay, Harman
Publisher: Prakrit Granth Parishad

Page 12

PREFACE
The current of Indian literature has flown into three main streams, viz., Sanskrit, Pali and PrakritEach of them witnessed enormous range of creative activity. Sanskrit texts ranging in date from the Vedic to the classical period and belonging to almost all branches of literature have now been edited and published for more than a century beginning with the magnificent edition of the Rigveda by Prof. Max Muller. The Päli literature devoted almost exclusively to the teaching and religion of the Buddha was even more lucky in that the Pali Text Society of London planned and achieved comprehensive publication in a systematic manner. Those editions of the Pali Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma Pitakas and their commentaries are well known all over the world.
The Prakrit literature presents an amazing phenomenon in the field of Indian literary activity. Prakrit as a dialect may have had its early beginning about the seventh century B. C. from the time of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, who reorganised the Jaina religion and church in a most vital manner and infused new life into all its branches. We have certain evidence that he, like the Buddha. made use of the popular speech of his times as the medium of his religious activity. The original Jaina sacred litrature or canon was in the Ardhamagadhi form of Prakrit. It was compiled sometime later, but may be taken to have retained its pristine purity. The Prakrit language developed divergent local idioms of which some outstanding regional styles became in course of time the vehicle of varied literary activity. Amongst such Sauraseni, Mahārāstri and Pajś ci occupaid a place of honour. Of these the Maharastri Prakrit was accepted as the standard medium of literary activity from about the first century A, D. until almost to our own times. During this long period of twenty centurios a vast body of religious and secular literature came into existence in the Prakrit language. This literature comprises an extensive stock of ancient commentaries on the Jain religious canon or the Agamic literature on the one hand, and such creative works as poetry, drama, romance, stories as well as scientific treatises on Vyakarana, Kosha, Chanda etc. on the other hand. This literature is of vast magnitude and the number of works of deserving merit may be about a thousand. Fortunatly this literature is o intrinsic value as a perennial source of Indian literary and cultural history. As yet it has been but indifferently tapped and is waiting proper publication. It may also be mentioned that the Prakrit literature is of adding interest for teaching the orgin and development of almost all the New-Indo-Aryan languages like Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Kašmiri, Sindh, Bangalt, Uriya, Assāmi and NepFIT. A national effort for the study of Prakrit languages in all aspects and in proper historical perspective is of vital inportance for a full understanding to the inexhaustible linguistic heritage of modern India. About the eighth century thc Prakrit languages developed a new style known as Apabhramsa which has furnished the missing links between thc Modern and the MiddleIndo-Aryan speeches. Luckily several hundred Apabhram a texts have been recovered in recent years from the forgotten archives of the Jaina temples.
With a view to undertake the publication of this rich literature some coordinated efforts were needed in India. After the attainment of freedom, circumstances so moulded themselves rapidly as to lead to the foundation of a society under the name of the Prakrit Text Sociсty, which was duly registered in 1952 with the following aims and objects:
(1) To prepare and publish critical editions of Prakrit texts and commentaries and other works connected therewith.
(2) To promote studies and research in Prakrit language and literature. (3) To promote studies and research of such languages as are associated with Präkrit. (4) () To set up institutions or centres for promoting studies and research in Indian History
and Culture with special reference to aucient Prakrit texts.