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174
to by Jinaprabha's commentary on the Ajitasänti-stava of Nandisena (1309 A. D.). The author of Kavidarpana knows Hemacandra's 'Chandonusasana. So the work is composed sometime in the 13th Century AD,
G. S. Shah
The commentator of Kavidarpaṇa largely quotes from the Chandahkandali, which is evidently a work in Prakrit prosody written in Prakrit languge and employing the same terminology as is used in 'Kavidarpana'. The Commentator quotes one unknown Sanskrit prosodist Śūra on p. 1 and p. 8 under Kavidarpana 2-4; He mentions that the technical terms used for the Matra Ganas in Kavidarpana are borrowed from Sura. (Šūra paribhāṣā i am pujya prayukta Sarva iti artbäjjneya).
'Kavidarpana' is divided in six 'Uddeśas'. First two chapters are for introduction and for metres based on Maträs, then three chapters are for metres based on Varna, last refers to Pratyayas. The author classifies the metres under three heads in accordance with the unit of varṇa, mātrā or both.
The author of 'Kavidarpeṇa' composes his illustrations like Hemacandra as a general rule and introduces the name of the metre in the illustration itself by means of the usual device of 'Mudra'. His main aim was to compose a practical guide in respect of metres, particularly those in the Prakrit and Apabhramsa languages.
Thus we can see that the contribution of Jaina authors to Sanskrit Chandahsastra is remarkable and varied. They have tried to establish their individual existence by defining new metres, by evolving new methods of signs, for brevity and preciseness, by incorporating in their works Prakrit and Apabhramśa metres along with Sanskrit metres, and sometimes by giving illustrations of the metres.
FOOT-NOTES
1. "Chandah Padau tu Vedasya..." etc. Panintya Siksa 42, 43.
ed. Dr. Shukla, J. M., Vidya', August, 76 & Jan. 77. Gujarat University, Ahmedabad-380 009.
2. Pingalacarya, Chandaḥsästra (Kavyamālā-91) (1938) 3/29, 3/30, 3/36, 5/18, 7/10, 7/35.
3. Velankar, H. D., Jayadaman-General Introduction p. 33 Haritosamala No. 1 (1949), Wilson College, Bombay.
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