Universal Values of Prakrit Texts

Author(s): Prem Suman Jain
Publisher: Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapeeth and Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan

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BLESSINGS
The First National Prakrit Conference at Bangalore, on the 8th and 9th December, 1990, Second National Prakrit Conference in 1993 at Hydrabad and other National Prakrit Seminars organised by National Institute of Prakrit
Studies and Research, Shravanabelagola were some steps for promotion of the Prakrit Studies.
Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapeetha Trust is making inroads into hitherto neglected area of organising the varied and localised efforts are being made in the study of works in Prakrit, which we all know is among the richest languages. With a treasure comprising treatises on practically every field of knowledge.
The Prakrit canonical literature is very valuable as besides the teachings of Mahavira and his disciples. It contains social and cultural material unknown from Sanskrit or Pali sources. It is also important from the point of view of the history and development of Indo-Aryan languages. Digambaras have their own tradition about their canonical literature. It is stated that Ācārya Dharasena (between 613-783 years of Viranirvāna, i.e. between 86-156 AD) knew a part of the 12 Angas. The monks Puspadanta and Bhutabali Later they composed the Chakkhandāgama (Satkhandāgama) under the guidance of Ācārya Dharasena. Ācārya Gunadhara, a contemporary of Dharasena, was another renowned Digambara scholar, equipped with the knowledge of a portion of the 12 angas. He is the author of the Kaşāyapāhuda (Kaşāyaprābhruta)
Apart from Prakrit works on poetry, narratives, the Jaina canon and philosophy, there are innumerable secular writings in Prakrit and other languages on Grammar, Metre, lexicography, mathematics, astrology and music, and other subjects as well. This kind of literature contains various new insights with regard to the knowledge and wisdom of Indian literature.
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