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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
311
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When we come to Apabhramsa, the last stage of literary Prakrit, we have two great Apabhramsa poets, Svayambhū (C.9th Century A.D.) and Punpadanta (10th Century A.D.), who chose Karnataka as their favourite land for their literary activities. Svayambhu's Paumacariu and Ritthanemicariu are valuable Mahakavyas, whereas his Svyambhūchanda is a unique work on metrics. Then Punpadanta, unter the patronage of Bharata and Nanna during the reign of the Rantrakūta King Krsna III, composed (1) Mahāpurāna, (2) Nayakumaracariu and (3) Jasaharacariu. The Mahāpurāna is a work of great merit and importance. Besides, Kanakamara the poet of Karakanducariu, shows a close acquaitance with Karnataka as reflected in his details dscription of the jaina caves at Terā, the old Tagara of the Silahāras. Apabhramsa has also influenced Kannada lliterature in some respects. The Kannada metrical form Raghatā or Ragale is nothing but an adaptation of the Apabhramsa Pajjhadia metre. Such adaptation, first seen in Pampa, has had its several varieties later.
This is all that we could know about the literary Prakrits in Karnataka. But the Prakrit speaking people, since they came in contact with the Kannada speaking ones, must have influenced the Kannada language, of which process we have no early evidence. However, such linguistic iníluence is found reflected in some early Kannada inscriptions and literary works like the Vaddarādhane etc., wherein are found pure Prakrit words and words with Prakritic influence (including back formations) like dhamma, cāga, jasa, vakkhānisu, pāguda, gudda etc. Then the Apabhramsa chapter in the Sabdamanidarpana of Kesirāja happens to be partly a replica of the Phonological Section of the Prakrit grammar. Thus the lexical contribution of Prakrit to Kannada is considerable and in this respect the Jainas have a bulky share.
It is essential to note that Kannada has not remained as just receiver from Prakrits. But it has also lent several words, For Private & Personal Use Only
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