Paramparagat Prakrit Vyakarana Ki Samiksha

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Paramparagat Prakrit Vyakarana ki Samiksha aur Ardhamagadhi" by Dr. K. R. Chandra:

Book Title: Paramparagat Prakrit Vyakarana ki Samiksha aur Ardhamagadhi (A Review of Traditional Prakrit Grammar and Ardhamagadhi) Author: Dr. K. R. Chandra Publisher: Prakrit Jain Vidya Vikas Fund, Ahmedabad Publication Year: 1995

Overall Theme: This book is a critical review and analysis of traditional Prakrit grammars, examining their rules and their applicability to Ardhamagadhi, an ancient Prakrit language. Dr. Chandra challenges certain established grammatical rules by comparing them with the linguistic evidence found in Prakrit inscriptions and literature, particularly focusing on the preservation of the original form of Ardhamagadhi texts.

Key Areas of Examination and Criticism:

1. Origin and Nature of Prakrit Languages:

   • The book begins by discussing the different views on the origin of Prakrit languages, whether they originated from Sanskrit or vice versa.
   • It analyzes the definitions of Prakrit provided by ancient grammarians like Vararuci, Chand, and Hemachandra.
   • Dr. Chandra argues that grammarians often used one Prakrit as a basis to explain another, rather than implying a direct lineage of origin. He suggests that Sanskrit was considered a "basis" for explaining Prakrit's variations, not necessarily its "mother."
   • Bharat Muni's perspective on Prakrit as a language used in dramas alongside Sanskrit, characterized by its lack of "samskara" (refinement) compared to Sanskrit, is also discussed. Dr. Chandra interprets this as Sanskrit being a refined form derived from a more natural, less refined language (Prakrit).

2. Phonological Changes and Traditional Grammars:

   • A significant portion of the book is dedicated to scrutinizing specific sound changes prescribed by traditional Prakrit grammarians, particularly Hemachandra and Vararuci.
   • Intervocalic Consonants (t/d, p/v, etc.): Dr. Chandra questions the rules regarding the frequent elision (loss) of intervocalic consonants like 't', 'd', 'p', 'v', 'y', 'k', 'g', 'c', 'j', etc. He argues, with evidence from inscriptions and literature, that these elisions were not as pervasive in early Prakrit, including Ardhamagadhi, as grammarians suggested. He notes that elision became more prominent in later Prakrit stages (like Maharashtri).
   • Palatalization (c -> j, t -> d, etc.): The book examines the process of voicing of consonants (e.g., k->g, c->j, t->d) and questions the universality of these rules across all Prakrit languages and time periods. He finds evidence of these processes in Ardhamagadhi, but highlights that grammarians' rules may not accurately reflect the historical development.
   • 'y' Shruti (Epenthetic 'y'): Dr. Chandra analyzes Hemachandra's rule regarding the insertion of 'y' after elided consonants, particularly when 'a' or 'ā' remains. He argues that this phenomenon was present in spoken Prakrit and inscriptions, even in early stages, and was not just a later development or a rule applied inconsistently by grammarians.
   • Nasal Consonants (ṅ, ñ, ṇ, n): The book critically examines the rules for the transformation of nasal consonants into anusvāra (nasalization mark) or their interaction with other consonants. He points out inconsistencies in Hemachandra's rules and argues that the preservation of original nasal consonants (ṅ and ñ) was common in older Prakrit literature, including Ardhamagadhi, and that the prevalence of anusvāra is a later development, possibly influenced by modern languages.
   • Initial 'n' vs. 'ṇ': Dr. Chandra thoroughly investigates the historical usage of initial 'n' versus 'ṇ' in Prakrit and Ardhamagadhi. He argues against the universal rule proposed by grammarians like Vararuci that initial 'n' always becomes 'ṇ'. He presents epigraphic and literary evidence showing that initial 'n' was preserved in many early Prakrit inscriptions and texts, including Ardhamagadhi. He suggests that the confusion might have arisen due to writing practices and the influence of later Prakrit developments.
   • 'ṇy', 'nn', 'ny', 'ṇ' changes to 'nn' or 'ṇ': The book analyzes the transformations of consonant clusters like 'ṇy', 'nn', 'ny', and 'ṇ', again comparing grammatical rules with actual linguistic usage in inscriptions and literature. He notes regional variations and chronological developments in these changes.
   • Intervocalic 'l': The presence of intervocalic 'l' in Vedic, Pali, and early Prakrit inscriptions is discussed. Dr. Chandra laments its absence in modern editions of Ardhamagadhi texts, suggesting it's a loss of an original feature possibly due to script simplification or later Prakrit influence.
   • Grammatical Case Endings: The book examines various case endings, particularly the locative singular (saptami ekavachan) endings like '-sim', '-smhi', '-sim', '-si'. He compares the grammatical rules with the actual usage in inscriptions, Pali, and Ardhamagadhi texts, suggesting that some endings, like '-sim', were indeed present in older Ardhamagadhi, even if not explicitly detailed by all grammarians. The book also discusses the evolution of other case endings like instrumental plural, genitive plural, and locative plural, analyzing the impact of metrical requirements and later Prakrit influences.

3. Ardhamagadhi: Ancient vs. Later Forms:

   • Dr. Chandra strongly advocates for distinguishing between the older and later forms of Ardhamagadhi. He argues that many modern editions of Ardhamagadhi texts have incorporated later linguistic features due to manuscript evolution, scribal errors, and the influence of other Prakrit dialects or languages.
   • He provides extensive examples from various Ardhamagadhi texts (like Acharanga Sutra, Sutrakritanga, Vishheshavashyak Bhashya) to demonstrate the variations between ancient and later readings within the same texts.
   • He emphasizes the importance of using older manuscripts (like the Jaisalmer palm-leaf manuscript of Vishheshavashyak Bhashya) and grammatical analysis to reconstruct the original language of Ardhamagadhi scriptures.

4. Critique of Modern Textual Editing:

   • Dr. Chandra criticizes the editorial practices that have sometimes led to the loss of original linguistic features in Ardhamagadhi texts. He points out that editors sometimes adopted a simplified or later form of language, or failed to preserve variant readings that indicated older forms.
   • He argues that the rules of traditional Prakrit grammars, which often reflect later developments, should not be rigidly applied to reconstruct the original Ardhamagadhi.

Key Arguments and Contributions:

• Challenging Traditional Orthodoxy: Dr. Chandra systematically challenges the often-unquestioned rules of traditional Prakrit grammars by presenting counter-evidence from epigraphy and literature.
• Rehabilitation of Ardhamagadhi: A major contribution of the book is its effort to "restore" the original linguistic character of Ardhamagadhi by advocating for the acceptance of archaic readings and forms found in older manuscripts and inscriptions.
• Historical Linguistic Approach: The book employs a historical and comparative linguistic approach, analyzing sound changes and grammatical structures within their historical context.
• Importance of Inscriptions and Manuscripts: Dr. Chandra highlights the crucial role of inscriptions and older manuscripts in understanding the evolution and original forms of Prakrit languages.
• Impact of Later Prakrits: He effectively demonstrates how later Prakrit dialects (especially Maharashtri) and even the influence of Sanskrit and later writing conventions impacted the perceived form and rules of Ardhamagadhi.

Conclusion: "Paramparagat Prakrit Vyakarana ki Samiksha aur Ardhamagadhi" is a scholarly work that calls for a re-evaluation of traditional Prakrit grammar in light of new evidence. It emphasizes the need for critical textual editing of Ardhamagadhi scriptures, prioritizing linguistic authenticity and historical accuracy over the adherence to later grammatical norms or the convenience of simplified forms. Dr. Chandra's meticulous research aims to present a more accurate picture of the original language of the Jain Agamas.