Prakritadhyaya

Author(s): Kramdishwar, Satyaranjan Banerjee, Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

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KRAMADISVARA
portion) is a genuine one. Goyicandra clearly says in his commentary that after finishing Sanskrit grammar, Kramadīśvara had composed the grammar for Prākrit languages in the eighth chapter. Besides, we have seen that Kramadīśvara bas followed the same scheme and technique as he used in the first seven pādas of his Sanskrit grammar. Nitti-Dolci also voiced the same opinion when she tried to prove its genuineness. So, nothing can be said against the validity of the eighth pāda of his grammar.
(a) Why has he inoluded the Prākrit portion in his Sanskrit Grammar ?
$ 48. But a question may be raised why & treatment of Prākrit be appended to his Sanskrit grammar ? The answer is simple : he has treated the language as a whole which not only includes Sanskrit ('purified') but also Prākrit ('natural'). In the Sanskrit dramas, Sanskrit and Prākrit languages have been simultaneously used. To a learner of Sanskrit who would read Sanskrit literature (specially the dramas), a knowledge of Prākrit is necessary. So, for proficiency in Sanskrit the study of Prākrit can in no way be ignored. Kramadīśvara, therefore, thought it necessary to include Prākrit in his Sanskrit grammar.
§ 49 Pischel® is of the opinion that Kramadīśvara inoluded it, because Hemacandra did the same thing in his grammar. Unless Kramadīśvara's date is determined, we cannot find the veracity of Pischel's remark. E. P. Šāstrī wants to say that Kramadīśvara had included it in the interest of the Saivas of Bengal, because the Saivas at this period used the Prākrits and vernaculars in their propaganda work. The Bengal Saivas of Candradvīpa wrote in the vernacular, traces of which are to be found in later Buddhist works ; and the Kāśmira Saiva works are almost invariably accompained with some verses in the vernacular at the end of each chapter.• Kramadīs. vara, therefore, found it necessary to give some grammar of the
1) Les Gramm, Pkt. pp. 131-32.2) Gramm, Pkt. Spr. $ 87. 3) Upadhye, A. N. Prakrit Language and Kashmir Saivism in Dr. S. K. Belvalkar Felicitation Volume, Patna, pp. 192-95.