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THE QUESTION OF PRIORITY OF ARDHAMAGADHI AND SAURASENI AGAMAS
K. R. Chandra
Recently a Seminar on the Original Language of Jain Canonical works' (Jinagamon kr Mūla Bhāşa) was held at Ahmedabad on the 27th and 28th April, 1997. The outcome of the Parleys* on the Subject was-Ardhamagadhi is the original language of Jain canonical works whereas the Sauraseni Agama.Works arc Comparatively of later age. Regarding this subject opinions of eminent western
which corroborate the outcome of the Seminar. Their letters are being reproduced here for the enlightenment of the scholars working in this field.
Dear Professor Chandra
Thank you for informing me of the Seminar on the Original Language of the Jain Canonical Texts that is scheduled to take place shortly in Ahmedabad. You are to be congratulated on the selection and range of topics, and on the timing of the conference at this important juncture in Jain Studies.
My colleagues and I hope that, by subsequent publication of the proceedings, it will encourage and facilitate more widespread study. publication and discussion of the primary manuscript sources. We would also wish to convey our congratulations to Dr. K.R. Chandra on the appearance of his stimulating re-appraisal of the linguistic from of the text of Acaranga.
J.C. Wright Professor of Sanskrit in the Univ. of London School of Oriental and African Studies
University of London London WCIH OXG
* See 'Tulasi Prajña', Vol. 23, No. 1, Aprit- June, 1997, Ladnun,
pp. 149-151.
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