Mul Bhasha Me Ghus Pet

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Mul Bhasha Me Ghus Pet" by K.R. Chandra:

Book Title: Mul Bhasha Me Ghus Pet (Infiltration into the Original Language) Author: Dr. K.R. Chandra Publisher: K.R. Chandra

This article, "Mul Bhasha Me Ghus Pet" by Dr. K.R. Chandra, addresses a critical issue within Jainism: the corruption and distortion of the original Prakrit language (Ardhamagadhi) in which Lord Mahavir's teachings were delivered. The author argues that due to the negligence (pramad) of followers, the original scriptural language has significantly changed over time, necessitating a dedicated effort to restore it.

Key Arguments and Points:

• Natural Evolution of Language: Chandra begins by explaining that no language remains in its original form forever. Languages naturally evolve and change over time and across different regions. He provides examples from Sanskrit evolving from Vedic language and Prakrit evolving into various regional dialects and eventually into modern Indian languages like Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, etc.
• Ardhamagadhi as the Original Jain Language: The text explicitly states that Ardhamagadhi is the original language of the Jain Agamas (canonical texts), as Lord Mahavir delivered his teachings in this language in the region of Magadh (present-day Bihar).
• Causes of Language Distortion:
  • Oral Tradition: The teachings were transmitted orally for centuries through a Guru-shishya parampara.
  • Droughts and Recensions: Recensions (Vachanas) of the Agamas were performed periodically, especially after periods of drought. The final recension, according to one tradition, led to the scriptures being put into written form by Devardhigani in Valabhi.
  • Geographical and Temporal Spread: As Jainism spread from Magadh to centers like Mathura and later Valabhi (Gujarat), the language underwent regional influences. The influence of Maharashtri Prakrit from western India is particularly noted.
  • Emphasis on Meaning over Scriptural Rigidity: Unlike the Vedic tradition, the Shraman tradition (which includes Jainism) did not place as much emphasis on maintaining the exact script of the language. The focus was on conveying the meaning of the teachings in the prevalent language of the region. This led to inevitable changes.
  • Influence of Vernacular Languages: Even after the Agamas were codified, subsequent generations of scholars, readers, and copyists were influenced by the contemporary spoken languages of their time. This led to unconscious changes in the original text, with variations appearing in letters, vowels, consonants, words, and phrases.
  • Multiple Editors and Manuscript Variations: The problem is compounded by the fact that different editors have used different manuscripts as their primary source for compilation. This has resulted in a lack of linguistic uniformity across various editions of the Agamas, with even the same word appearing in different forms in different versions. Discrepancies are also found between the original Sutras and their commentaries (Churni and Vritti).
• Evidence of Distortion: The author highlights that these linguistic variations are evident in all manuscripts, whether they are old palm-leaf manuscripts or later paper manuscripts. This is why no single edition is identical to another in terms of linguistic readings.
• The Need for Restoration: Chandra argues that to restore the original Ardhamagadhi, a rigorous approach is necessary. This involves:
  • Thorough Historical and Comparative Linguistic Study: It's not enough to rely solely on traditional grammar texts like Hemachandracharya's Prakrit grammar. A deep understanding of the historical and comparative aspects of Prakrit languages is essential.
  • Identifying the Most Ancient Readings: The most effective method is to identify the linguistically oldest readings from among the variants found in manuscripts, commentaries, and chūrṇis.
  • Collaborative Effort: This task is too large for one individual and requires a dedicated institution.
• Examples of Linguistic Variations: The article provides concrete examples of word variations from different editions of the Achārāṅga Sūtra, demonstrating how words have changed. It also shows how the same word can have multiple variations within a single edition, further illustrating the extent of the problem.
• Conclusion: Dr. Chandra concludes that by removing linguistic "infiltrations" and re-editing the Agamas based on linguistic principles and ancient manuscript readings, the original meaning will not be lost. Instead, it will bring us closer to the language of the original Ganadharas (disciples who compiled the scriptures). He commends the efforts of the Shri Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya for making some linguistic progress but stresses the need to go even further by creating a new edition based entirely on ancient manuscript and Agama readings.

In essence, the article is a call to action for the Jain community to recognize the linguistic degradation of their sacred texts and to undertake a scholarly mission to restore the purity of the original Ardhamagadhi language, which holds the authentic teachings of Lord Mahavir.