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Prakrit Poetry and Sanskrit Poetics
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ideals of Anandavardhana, Abhinavagupta, Bhoja, Rajasekhara and Hemacandra who studied and wrote and appreciated literature both in Sanskrit and Prakrit. Let us keep our minds open. The responsibility of preserving our heritage-rich treasures in Sanskrit and Prakrit-rests chiefly on us Indians. How I wish our Indian universities show their wisdom, far-sightedness and vision by integrating and strengthening the Sanskrit and Prakrit studies!
We must shed all our narrow prejudices that Sanskrit is the language of the Brahmaṇas only and Prakrit of the Jains only. A hurried glance at the history of Sanskrit literature and of Prakrit literature is enough to convince any body that authors-poets, dramatists, story-writers, etc., belonging to different sects, creeds and religions have made noteworthy contributions to the development of literature in both the languages.
1) A. Weber: Ueber das Saptasatakam des Hala, Leipzig 1870; Das Saptasatakam of Hala, Leipzig 1881; the Gathasaptasati, Kavyamala 21, 2nd edn, 1911; Ibid, 3 rd edn, Bombay 1933. Keith: A History of Sanskrit Literature, Oxford 1928, pp. 223 ff.; A. M. Ghatge: Maharastri Language and Literature, Journal of the University of Bombay, 1V. 6, May 1936.
Footnotes
2) Cf. सत्त सआई कइवच्छलेण कोडीअ मज्झआरम्मि ।
हाले विरइभाइ सालंकाराण गाहाणं ॥-GSI. 3
3) Vide, infra, Praise of Prakrit Poets.
4) Vidė A. M. Ghatage: Mähäräṣṭri Language and Literature, Journal of the University of Bombay, IV, part 6 (pp 19-70) May 1936; Keith A History of Sanskrit Literature, Oxford 1928, pp 223 ff.; A. N. Upadhye: Prakrit Literature, Encyclopaedia of Literature 1, New York 1946.
5)
Jain Education International
कविप्रशंसा यथा रावणविजये --
अलं चेr विंध दोहिं पएहि कलुस पसण्णं च ठिअ । जाणंति कण कई सुद्धसहावेहि लोभणेहिं च हि ॥ [सकलमेव निबन्धे द्वाभ्यां पदाभ्यां उ प्रसन्नं च स्थितम् । जानन्ति कपीनां कपयः शुद्धस्वभावाभ्यां लोचनाभ्यां च हृदयम् ॥ ]
-Kavyanuisana, Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya edition, Bombay, 1964 p.
456.
6)
Vide the present writer's paper: The Harivijaya of Sarvasena, Annal, Bhandarkar Oriental Reasearch Institute, Poona, 1977-78 (Diamond Jubilee Volume), pp. 691-710.
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