________________
324
theory of the Paisaci origin of the Kannada language can be summarised as follows:
(i)
Pampa in his Vikramarjuna Vijaya (941 A.D.) states: Amalayacalahimagiri
Simavanitala (le) Bengimandalado! ce
Ivagame tanagadondūr
namadolam Vengipalu karam sogāyisuguṁ // (40, A.XIV)
Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
"There is the beautiful town Vengipalu spreading its fame all around in the country in the country of Bengi that extended from Mount Malaya to Mount Himalaya.' bengi or vengi is derived from the Kannada bel meaning pisaca. So vengimandala means the country of the Pisacas whose language was Paisaci. The modern Karnatak is a part of the ancient Vengimandala. Hence Kannada is born of Paisaci.
(ii)
(iii)
Moreover Culika Paisaci, the sub- dialect of Paisacī, is named after Coladeśa where it was spoken.
The names of the some modern towns and cities in Karnatak also owe their origin to the term beļ (Piśāca) and, thus, support the theory very well: bel- gāma (Belgaum); bel- kola (Belgola): and same is the case with Bellary, Bangalore etc.,
Lastly, that indeed was belnudi or Pisaca language (mother of Kannada language) which had less admixture of the Aryan linguistic elements. Dr.V.R.Umarji advances, at first, a novel theory that all
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
(iv)
(v)
Further, from this, bel or venginad developed the term bekanata (one belonging to the Pisaca country) occuring in the Rgveda (VII, 7.66): belvengibeka. etc. Therefore the extensive country of Vengi existed prior to the Vedic period itself and this glorious territorial picture was before Pampa's mind when he referred to Vengipalu.
Jain Education International
