Universal Values of Prakrit Texts

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

Page 15

EDITORIAL
The Prakrit language has a very significant place among the ancient languages of India. Linguists have classified the Indo-Aryan language group under the Indo-Iranian group of languages, and Prakrit is one Äryan language group in this family. In the gradual development of Indian languages Prakrit is related to almost all the languages in some form or the other. Its development in ancient times took place along with the people's languages. Since it developed out of the language of the common people and since it continued to be used by them, this language of the common people is called
Prakrit.
Prakrit was not only Mahāvīras mother tongue but also of groups of common folk scattered over a broad area. It was for this reason that Mahāvīra and his contemporary other thinkers used Prakrit in their teaching for the enlistment of the culture of the people. By using Prakrit as the medium of their teaching they waved the flag of revolution in their diversified areas of the society of their times. Prakrit has gained renown by being the language of the Agamas and of the Indians.
Prakrit literature is important not only for understanding the literature and philosophy of India but also for having a study of contemporary Indian society and culture. The social life of about one thousand years from 600 B.C. to 500 A.D. is reflected in the text of the Prakrit Agamas. Different cultural facts are explained into the commentaries of these Agamas. Since very few historical facts of this age are available, the subject matter on society, culture and polity etc., found in Prakrit texts have become more important. Therefore, we have to depend on these evidences of literature. There are exaggerations in some places in these works, yet they reflect reality more, which is necessary for the evaluation of the culture. It is imperative to have micro studies for the evaluation of the cultural material found in Prakrit literature and it is also essential to have the knowledge of the contemporary literature and it is also essential to have the knowledge of the contemporary literature of other traditions.
(xiii)