Progress of Prakrit and Jaina Studies

Author(s): Bhogilal J Sandesara
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society

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ment in secular literature Sanskrit and Präkrit were considered almost one. But Brahmins who were traditional repositories of learning in India became in later times completely indifferent and apathetic to Prākrit which was, at the most, to some of them the language of a heretical sect. As time went on, Prākrit was cultivated less even by the Jainas, and though we find some revival during the last few decades, in the Jaina monastic community itself there are very few persons proficient in the language of their scriptures in comparison to those who are well-versed in different branches of Sanskrit literature. All these things have influenced the position of Prākrit studies in the Universities, which are principal centres, in the new set-up, of the investigation and interpretation of our cultural heritage. I tried to collect information about the work done or being done on Prākrit and Jainism in all the Universities in India, and can say that at most of the Universities no work in these · subjects is being carried out. There seems to be no satisfactory
provision for the teaching of this important branch of learning except in a few centres. This should rapidly improve.
The study of Prākrit should not be thought of merely as the study of a religious language. Präkrit was the language of the people, and Mahāvira preferred to preach in their language, and so the Canonical literature of the Jainas is only in Prākrit. In both Jaina and Buddhist traditions there is a peculiar emphasis on the language of the common people. According to Jaina belief, the sermon of the Tirthankara was understood by all creatures in their own speech. We are told that the famous logician Siddhasena Divākara, who was a great Brahmin scholar before he became a Jaina monk, wanted to rewrite the entire Ardha-Māgadhi Canon in Sanskrit, and he was punished by the Jaina Sangha. A lcarned follower of Buddha wanted to translate all the teachings of luis master into Sanskrit, but Buddha did not allow him to do so, indicating that he desired all people to understand his words in their own languages. This merely emphasises the fact that Prākrit and Pāli were, in