Haimlaghuprakriya - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Haimlaghuprakriya" by Vinayvijay, based on the provided pages:

Title: Haimlaghuprakriya (A Concise Grammar of Hemachandra's)

Author: Vinayvijay (Upaadhyay Shri Vinayvijay)

Publisher: Jain Dharm Prasarak Sabha, Bhavanagar

Date of Publication: Vikram Samvat 1974 (Veer Samvat 2445, AD 1918)

Overall Purpose:

The text is a concise grammar that follows the principles and structure of the renowned "Siddha-Hema-ShabdAnuShAsanam" by Acharya Hemachandra. The author, Vinayvijay, emphasizes the importance of grammar (Vyakaran) as a fundamental tool for understanding and realizing the ultimate spiritual goal (Nihshreyas), which is attainable through knowledge. He notes the decline in Jain grammatical knowledge due to the passage of time and the erroneous perception by some outsiders that Jainism lacks a simple grammar. This work aims to revive and make accessible Jain grammatical principles, particularly those laid down by Hemachandra.

Key Points and Structure:

The book is presented as a simplified and accessible commentary on Hemachandra's larger grammatical works. It covers various aspects of Sanskrit grammar, organized into distinct sections:

Introduction (Mukha Vedika):
- Emphasizes the pursuit of purpose in all actions, distinguishing between worldly (aishik) and spiritual (amushmik) goals.
- Highlights the spiritual goal (Nihshreyas) as paramount, achievable only through knowledge.
- Stresses the necessity of grammar (Vyakaran) for purifying this knowledge, which is often derived from texts.
- Addresses the historical decline in the study of Jain grammar and the misconception of its absence.
- Acknowledges the rediscovery and importance of ancient Jain grammatical texts, specifically mentioning Hemachandra's "Siddha-Hema-ShabdAnuShAsanam" and its commentaries (Vritti, Nyasa), as well as other works by Jain Acharyas like Meghavijay Suri.
- Introduces "Haimlaghuprakriya" itself as a concise grammar based on Hemachandra's sutras, with its own extensive commentary.
- Provides biographical details about the author, Vinayvijay, noting his lineage through prominent Jain scholars like Keerti Vijay Ganin and Heer Vijay Suri.
- Mentions the publication of the book with the financial assistance of Sakar Chand Shreshthi and the publication efforts of Kuvarji Anandji.
Sections of Grammar Covered (as indicated by the chapter titles and content):
- Samjna Adhikara (Chapter on Nomenclature/Terms): This section, as seen in the provided pages, deals with the fundamental terms and classifications used in Sanskrit grammar, such as vowels (svara), consonants (vyanjana), their characteristics (length, pronunciation, articulation points), and various grammatical terms (e.g.,guru, laghu, samyogah, avasanam).
- Svara Sandhi (Vowel Sandhi): Rules for the combination of vowels, including lengthening (dirgha), assimilation (e.g., avarna becoming et, ot, ar, al), and specific rules for diphthongs and other vowel combinations.
- Asandhi (Non-combination): Rules where sandhi does not occur, or occurs optionally, often related to specific words or grammatical contexts.
- Vyanjana Sandhi (Consonant Sandhi): Rules for the modification and combination of consonants, involving changes to letters based on their position and the following sound (e.g., the third consonant of a class changing to the fifth, assimilation, etc.).
- Repha Sandhi (Sandhi related to 'Ra'): Rules governing the behavior of the consonant 'r' in sandhi, including its transformation into a visarga.
- Declension of Nouns (Vibhakti Vivhyavye): This extensive section details the case endings (vibhaktis) for masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns, covering various declensions based on the final sound of the noun stem (e.g., ending in 'a', 'i', 'u', 'r', etc.). It shows the formation of singular, dual, and plural forms with their respective case endings and euphonic changes. This includes paradigms for common noun types like 'deva', 'sarva', 'muni', 'vadhu', 'ganga', 'kula', 'vari', 'pitr', 'matr', 'nadi', etc.
- Formation of Adverbs (Avyayani): Rules for forming indeclinable words, often derived from nouns or other parts of speech through specific suffixes, indicating time, place, manner, etc.
- Feminine Suffixes (Stripratyaya): Rules for forming feminine nouns from masculine stems, detailing the various suffixes used based on the stem's ending and gender.
- Taddhita (Secondary Suffixes): A vast section on suffixes that modify the meaning of a noun or add a derivative sense. This includes suffixes related to:
  - Offspring (Apatyatva): Suffixes forming terms for descendants.
  - Possession (Tadasti): Suffixes indicating "having" or "possessing."
  - Modification (Vikara): Suffixes forming words related to changes or modifications.
  - Time/Place (Desha): Suffixes related to time and place.
  - Affection/Love (Bhava): Suffixes forming abstract nouns.
  - Instrument/Means (Karana): Suffixes indicating the agent or means.
- Krdanta (Primary Suffixes): Suffixes attached directly to roots to form nouns, participles, etc., often indicating the agent, instrument, or action. This includes suffixes like -tr, -kt, -ktavat, -ly, -kn, -kh, -gh, -khya, -nn, -k, etc.
- Verbal Conjugation (Akhyata Prakriya): This significant portion deals with the conjugation of verbs. It covers:
  - Roots (Dhatu): Classification of roots into GANAS (Parasmaipada, Atmanepada, Ubhayapada).
  - Tenses: Description of various tenses like Present (Vartamana), Imperfect (HyastanI), Aorist (Adyatani), Periphrastic Perfect (Paroksha), Future (Shvastani), and Imperative/Benedictive (Vidhi/Ashishi).
  - Moods and Voices: Explanation of different moods and voices, including active (Parasmaipada) and middle/passive (Atmanepada).
  - Reduplication (Dvitva): Rules for repeating parts of the verb stem for intensification or continuous action.
  - Suffixes: Various verb suffixes and their associated changes.
  - Specific Root Conjugations: Detailed conjugations for important root classes like Bhu-adi (to be), Hu-adi (to offer), Tu-da-adi (to strike), Ru-dha-adi (to obstruct), Ksu-ra-adi (to cut), etc., are presented with examples.

Key Features and Strengths:

Conciseness: As the title suggests, "Laghu" (concise), it aims to be a shorter and more accessible version of Hemachandra's extensive grammar.
Clarity: The author strives to explain the complex rules of Sanskrit grammar in a clear and understandable manner.
Follows Hemachandra: It adheres strictly to the framework and terminology established by Acharya Hemachandra, making it a valuable resource for those studying his works.
Comprehensiveness (within its scope): Despite its conciseness, it covers a wide range of grammatical topics necessary for understanding Sanskrit.
Jain Context: The introductory sections clearly place the work within a Jain philosophical and educational framework, emphasizing the importance of grammar for spiritual advancement.

In essence, "Haimlaghuprakriya" serves as an introductory guide and simplified explanation of the vast Sanskrit grammatical system as systematized by Acharya Hemachandra, presented with the author's characteristic clarity and devotion to Jain principles.