Deshi Nammala Ka Bhasha Vaignanik Adhyayan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "देशीनाममाला का भाषा वैज्ञानिक अध्ययन" (Deshi Nammala ka Bhasha Vaignanik Adhyayan) by Shivmurti Sharma, based on the provided table of contents and preliminary pages:

Book Title: देशीनाममाला का भाषा वैज्ञानिक अध्ययन (A Linguistic Study of Deshinaamaala) Author: Dr. Shivmurti Sharma Publisher: Devnagar Prakashan, Jaipur

Overview:

This book is a detailed linguistic and literary analysis of Acharya Hemachandra's Deshinaamaala. Hemachandra, a renowned Jain scholar, compiled this lexicon as a supplement to his magnum opus, Siddh-Hema-Shabd-anushasan (a comprehensive grammar of Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Apabhramsha). Deshinaamaala specifically focuses on "Deshi" words, which are native words not found in Sanskrit or derived from it through regular phonetic changes. The author, Dr. Shivmurti Sharma, presents this study as a pioneering effort to highlight the significance of Deshinaamaala, a work that has been largely overlooked by scholars despite its immense value.

Core Argument and Scope:

Dr. Sharma's central thesis is that Deshinaamaala is an extraordinary work in lexicography, not just within Indian tradition but globally. He argues that a deep study of this lexicon is crucial for understanding the nature of medieval Indian Aryan languages like Pali, Prakrit, and Apabhramsha. The book aims to demonstrate the literary and linguistic importance of Deshinaamaala.

The study is divided into two main parts, encompassing seven chapters:

Part 1: Critical Analysis

Chapter 1: Acharya Hemachandra's Personality and Literary Works: This chapter delves into Hemachandra's life, his academic pursuits, and the development of his personality. It explores his association with the Chalukya kings Siddharaj Jaisingh and Kumarpal, highlighting the influence these patrons had on his prolific output. A brief overview of his various works, including Siddh-Hema-Shabd-anushasan, lexicographical works (Abhidhan-Chintamani, Deshinaamaala, Nighantu), poetic works (Dvyashraya Kavya), grammatical treatises (Kavyanushasan, Chhand-anushasan), philosophical works (Pramana-Mimamsa), and biographical narratives (Trishashti-Shalaka-Purush-Charita, Yoga-Shastra), is provided, along with an attempt to establish their chronological order.
Chapter 2: Deshinaamaala - An Analysis of its Nature: This chapter focuses on the Deshinaamaala itself. It addresses the complexities of its nomenclature (including the name Ratnavali), its probable period of composition (12th century CE), the nature of its manuscript traditions, its subject matter, and its overall structure. The chapter also examines the verses (gathas) used to illustrate the meaning of the Deshi words, their classification, their significance, and the commentator's notes (vritti or tika). Finally, it highlights the lexicographical and linguistic importance of the work.
Chapter 3: Literary Study of Ratnavali (Deshinaamaala): This chapter explores the literary merits of the Deshinaamaala. It analyzes the thematic content of the 634 illustrative verses, categorizing them into secular love and eroticism (including descriptions of union, various heroines, separation, jealousy, separation due to travel, and sorrow), verses praising Kumarpal, and verses covering diverse themes like social customs, moral principles, deities, regional traditions, and superstitions. The chapter also critically examines the artistic aspects of Ratnavali, including its meter, language, and use of figures of speech (alankars).
Chapter 4: Cultural Study of Ratnavali (Deshinaamaala): This chapter focuses on the cultural significance of the vocabulary found in Deshinaamaala. It reconstructs the social milieu of the time, discussing social and familial relationships, lifestyle, customs, dress, food habits, gambling, household items, social festivals, and games. It also touches upon religious practices, deities, literature, art, agricultural life, and political/administrative systems, all as reflected in the lexicon. The study concludes that the vocabulary reflects a long-standing, rural, and lower-class culture rather than a specific era.

Part 2: Linguistic Significance

Chapter 5: Analysis of "Deshi" Words: This chapter delves into the theoretical aspects of "Deshi" words. It discusses various scholarly opinions on their nature, origin, and development, emphasizing the common understanding of them as words from spoken, everyday language that have entered literature. The chapter examines the relationship between Prakrit and Deshi words, with Prakrit being seen as naturally evolved spoken language. It also explores the origins of Deshi words from various provincial dialects and non-Aryan languages.
Chapter 6: Deshi Words as Evolved in Standard Hindi and its Major Dialects: This chapter presents a linguistic study of 168 Deshi words found in Deshinaamaala, tracing their evolution and presence in standard Hindi and its major dialects. The author acknowledges that many of these words might be considered tadbhav by some scholars but argues for their Deshi classification based on their contextual usage and origin in folk languages. This chapter aims to break traditional linguistic approaches and offer new insights for future research.
Chapter 7: Linguistic Study of Deshinaamaala: This is the most detailed linguistic analysis, divided into three sub-sections:
- Phonemic Analysis: Examines the historical and descriptive analysis of vowel and consonant phonemes used in Deshinaamaala. It details the presence and distribution of various vowels and consonants, including their behavior in different positions within a word.
- Morphological Analysis: Focuses on the grammatical structure of the words, including their form, suffixation processes (case markers, derivative suffixes, prefixes), and the use of nominal forms. It notes the difficulty in analyzing some words due to the lack of clear root and suffix components, suggesting that their meaning is primarily derived from usage.
- Semantic Analysis (Semasiology): This section analyzes the meaning of the vocabulary, classifying words based on their origins, including those from ancient Prakrit, Sanskrit (but not found in Sanskrit lexicons), Indo-European languages, Dravidian languages, foreign words, onomatopoeic words (sound imitations), words related to gestures, and those derived from children's language or semantic extensions of Sanskrit/Tatsama words.

Key Themes and Contributions:

Pioneering Work: Sharma presents his study as the first comprehensive attempt to elucidate the literary and linguistic significance of Deshinaamaala.
Defence of Hemachandra: The author defends Hemachandra against criticisms, particularly Bühler's view that Deshinaamaala contains more tadbhav than deshi words. Sharma argues that Hemachandra's approach was to collect words from everyday language, regardless of their perceived origin, and that his perspective should be preserved.
Linguistic Purity: Sharma refutes the idea that Deshi words are solely from non-Aryan languages, arguing they originate from the continuous, everyday spoken language of the people, which has always co-existed with more formal literary languages like Sanskrit.
Literary Merit of Ratnavali: He highlights the poetic quality of the illustrative verses in Deshinaamaala, comparing them to the Gaha Sattasai and emphasizing their emotional depth and artistic value, justifying Hemachandra's alternative title Ratnavali (Garland of Jewels).
Cultural Tapestry: The book uses the vocabulary of Deshinaamaala to paint a vivid picture of the socio-cultural landscape of medieval Gujarat, revealing details about daily life, customs, beliefs, and occupations.
Linguistic Evolution: The study tracks the evolution of Deshi words into standard Hindi and its dialects, demonstrating their persistence and transformation over centuries.
Methodology: Sharma employs a multi-faceted approach, combining historical, literary, and linguistic analysis. He meticulously examines the manuscripts and critically evaluates the work of previous scholars, correcting perceived errors and offering his own interpretations.

In essence, Dr. Shivmurti Sharma's work is a scholarly tribute to Acharya Hemachandra's Deshinaamaala, positioning it as a vital resource for understanding the evolution of Indian languages, the nuances of medieval Indian culture, and the profound literary genius of Hemachandra himself.