Laghu Hemprabhaya Purvarddha

The provided text is the first part (Purvarddha) of the Laghu Hemprabhaya Vyākaraṇam, a grammar book authored by Acharya Vijaynemisuri. It was published by the Jain Granth Prakashak Sabha.

Here'1s a summary of the key aspects covered in the text:

• Author and Publisher: The book is authored by Acharya Vijaynemisuri and published by Jain Granth Prakashak Sabha. The first edition was printed in Samvat 1978 (Vikram Samvat), corresponding to 1921 CE, with 500 copies.

• Purpose and Context: The text explains that this grammar, the "Laghu Hemprabha," is a condensed and simplified version of the more extensive "Shri Siddha-Hema Shabdanushasana" compiled by the renowned Jain scholar Acharya Hemchandrasuri. The simplification is intended to aid those with limited intellect in understanding the principles of grammar. It acknowledges the financial support from Lalchand Hansraj and Maniklal Shresthi for its publication.

• Structure and Content: The book follows the traditional structure of Sanskrit grammars, beginning with the Sangyā Prakaraṇam (Chapter on Technical Terms) and then moving through:

  • Paribhashā Prakaraṇam (Chapter on General Principles/Rules).
  • Svara Sandhi Prakaraṇam (Chapter on Vowel Combinations).
  • Vyanjana Sandhi Prakaraṇam (Chapter on Consonant Combinations).
  • Refa Sandhi Prakaraṇam (Chapter on Sandhi involving 'ra').
  • Syādi Sandhi Prakaraṇam (Chapter on Sandhi involving 'syādi').
  • Svarāntāḥ Puṁliṅgāḥ (Masculine Nouns ending in vowels).
  • Svarāntāḥ Strīliṅgāḥ (Feminine Nouns ending in vowels).
  • Svarāntāḥ Napuṁsakaliṅgāḥ (Neuter Nouns ending in vowels).
  • Vyanjanāntāḥ Puṁliṅgāḥ (Masculine Nouns ending in consonants).
  • Vyanjanāntāḥ Strīliṅgāḥ (Feminine Nouns ending in consonants).
  • Vyanjanāntāḥ Napuṁsakaliṅgāḥ (Neuter Nouns ending in consonants).
  • Yuṣmad-Asmad Prakriyā (Declension of 'you' and 'I').
  • Avyayāni (Indeclinables).
  • Strīpratyayāḥ (Feminine Suffixes).
  • Kārakāṇi (The Cases/Functions of Nouns).
  • Samāsa Prakaraṇam (Chapter on Compounding).
  • Taddhitāḥ (Secondary Suffixes).
  • Dviruktaprakriyā (Reduplication).

• Grammatical Concepts: The text systematically defines and explains various grammatical terms and rules, including:

  • Phonetics and Pronunciation: Details on vowels, consonants, their articulation, and qualities like duration (matra).
  • Sandhi Rules: Comprehensive rules for combining vowels and consonants, illustrated with examples.
  • Morphology: Formation of nouns, verb roots, suffixes, and their inflectional changes in different genders, numbers, and cases.
  • Syntax: Principles of sentence construction, case relationships (kārakas), and compound words (samāsas).
  • Taddhita Suffixes: Rules for forming secondary derivatives from nouns and adjectives.
  • Special Forms and Exceptions: Numerous rules and exceptions are provided, often referencing the original Hemchandrasuri's work.

• Jain Context: While primarily a grammar text, the author's affiliation as a Jain Acharya from the Tapogachha tradition is evident from the invocations and the context of the publication. The grammar itself is a tool for studying Sanskrit, which is often used in Jain scriptures and philosophical texts.

In essence, the Laghu Hemprabhaya Purvarddha is a foundational grammar text that aims to systematically teach the structure of the Sanskrit language, drawing upon the esteemed tradition of Acharya Hemchandrasuri, but presenting it in a more accessible format. It covers a wide range of grammatical topics, from basic phonetics to complex word formation and sentence structure.