Prachin Ardhamagadhi Ki Khoj Me

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prachin Ardhamagadhi ki Khoj me" by K.R. Chandra, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Prachin Ardhamagadhi ki Khoj me (In Search of the Original Ardhamagadhi) Author: K.R. Chandra Publisher: Prakrit Jain Vidya Vikas Fund, Ahmedabad

Overall Purpose: The book is a scholarly endeavor by K.R. Chandra to investigate and re-establish the original linguistic characteristics of Ardhamagadhi, the language of the Svetambara Jain canonical texts (Agamas). Chandra's primary goal is to understand and present the authentic form of this ancient Prakrit language, which has undergone significant changes due to the passage of time, regional influences, and varying editorial approaches.

Key Themes and Arguments:

1. The Problem of Textual Variations: A central theme is the significant variation found in the different editions and manuscripts of the Jain Agamas. Chandra highlights that due to centuries of transmission, scribal errors, and differing editorial principles, the linguistic uniformity (especially regarding sound changes) is lacking. He notes that some editions show a blend of ancient and later linguistic features, and sometimes even within the same edition, contradictory linguistic usages appear.

2. Critique of Modern Editions: Chandra critically examines the work of various editors, such as Schubring and JambuVijayji, pointing out their differing methodologies in presenting the Ardhamagadhi texts. He argues that editors have often applied their own linguistic theories or the rules of later Prakrit grammarians, leading to the omission or alteration of ancient readings. He specifically criticizes the tendency to over-apply rules like the elision of medial consonants or the transformation of aspirated consonants to 'h'.

3. Identifying Ancient Linguistic Traits: Chandra meticulously identifies specific linguistic features in the Agamas that he believes are remnants of the original Ardhamagadhi. These include:

   • Initial 'ya' becoming 'a': He cites examples like 'aha' for 'yatha' and 'ava' for 'yavat' and points to their presence in the Eastern Asokan inscriptions as evidence of their antiquity and regional origin.
   • Use of 'muti' for 'mati': He finds this usage in Agamas, Pali texts, and Asokan inscriptions, suggesting its ancient provenance.
   • Dative singular suffix '-aye' for stems ending in '-a': This is identified as a characteristic of Eastern India and is found in Agamas and Asokan inscriptions.
   • Present participle suffix '-mīna' instead of '-māna': This is linked to Asokan inscriptions, indicating that Ardhamagadhi texts with this feature are indeed ancient.
   • Absolutive participle suffix '-ttu' (-ittu): Unlike Pali, this suffix is considered ancient in Ardhamagadhi and is also found in Asokan inscriptions.
   • The use of 'bha' (and its variants) for the root 'bhū' (to be): He contrasts the higher frequency of 'bha' in ancient Ardhamagadhi texts with its lower frequency in later Prakrit and its prevalence in Pali and Asokan inscriptions.
   • The use of 'brū' root with its ancient forms: He notes the presence of archaic forms of this root in Ardhamagadhi, similar to Pali, which are absent in later Prakrit.
   • The root 'prāp' (to obtain) with its ancient forms: He traces the evolution of this root in Ardhamagadhi, linking it to ancient Prakrit and Asokan inscriptions.
   • The root 'kr' (to do) with its ancient forms: He highlights the usage of ancient forms of this root in Ardhamagadhi, which are also found in Pali and Asokan inscriptions.
   • The use of the gerundive suffix '-ttae' (-itta-e): This is considered specific to Ardhamagadhi and linked to Vedic usage.
   • The presence of archaic past tense suffixes like -si, -hi, -itu, -imsu: These are found in Ardhamagadhi and are also characteristic of ancient Pali and Asokan inscriptions.
   • The use of archaic injunctive/optative suffixes like -e, -yā, -eya: He notes their presence in Ardhamagadhi, Pali, and ancient inscriptions.
   • The use of archaic absolutive participle suffixes like -tta, -ttāṇa, -ya, -yāṇa, -cca, -cchāṇa: These are found in Ardhamagadhi and are considered ancient.
   • The use of archaic medially placed 't' and 'th' which change to 'd' and 'dh': While acknowledging these as signs of evolution, he also points out the retention of 't' and 'th' in some ancient forms, and the shift from 'd' to 't' as potentially indicating earlier stages.
   • The use of 'la' for 'ra': This is identified as a characteristic of Eastern India and is more prevalent in Ardhamagadhi than in other Prakrits, linking it to Magadhi.
   • The change of 'ka' to 'ga': This is also noted as an Eastern Indian feature found in Ardhamagadhi and Asokan inscriptions.
   • The use of the word 'sāmanta' in the sense of 'near' or 'neighbor': This usage, found in Agamas, is compared to its meaning in Vedic literature and Asokan inscriptions, reinforcing the Eastern Indian connection.
   • The insertion of vowels ('svabhakti') in consonant clusters: This is seen as preceding the process of assimilation and is more common in Ardhamagadhi than assimilation.
   • The use of '-e' as the nominative singular case ending for masculine stems ending in '-a': This is considered a significant Eastern Indian feature present in Ardhamagadhi and Asokan inscriptions.
   • The preservation of the word 'akasmāt' without phonetic changes: This is highlighted as a distinctive feature pointing to an archaic stage of the language.
   • The use of the absolutive participle '-kaṭṭu' for the root 'kr': This is linked to Eastern Indian Asokan inscriptions.

4. Ardhamagadhi's Antiquity and Origin: Chandra strongly argues that Ardhamagadhi is older than Maharastri and Sauraseni Prakrits. He posits that the original Ardhamagadhi texts were composed in Eastern India, likely around the time of or even before the reign of Ashoka. The linguistic features he identifies, which align with Eastern Asokan inscriptions and Pali, support this claim. He also contends that the Jain Agamas were subjected to linguistic changes over time, leading to the incorporation of later Prakrit features.

5. Critique of Hemacandra's Prakrit Grammar: Chandra analyzes how Acharya Hemacandra's Prakrit grammar treats Ardhamagadhi. He notes that while Hemacandra acknowledges Ardhamagadhi (often referring to it as 'Arsha' or 'Magadhi' in its broader sense), he doesn't provide a separate, systematic grammar for it. Instead, he incorporates its features within the general rules of Prakrit or mentions them in the commentary (vritti). Chandra feels that Hemacandra could have done more to delineate the unique characteristics of Ardhamagadhi and that his generalizations sometimes obscure the specific ancient traits preserved in the Agamas.

6. Reconstruction of Original Ardhamagadhi: Based on his analysis of textual variations and ancient linguistic traits, Chandra proposes a methodology for reconstructing the original Ardhamagadhi. He emphasizes prioritizing readings that preserve archaic features and align with the language's historical development, Eastern Indian origin, and its connection to Pali and early Asokan inscriptions. He provides a detailed case study of the word 'kṣetrajña' (क्षेत्रज्ञ) to illustrate how different editors have handled textual variations and how the original form ('khettanna') has been modified over time.

Key Contributions and Significance:

• Linguistic Analysis: The book offers a rigorous linguistic analysis of Ardhamagadhi, contributing significantly to the field of Prakrit studies.
• Textual Criticism: It provides a critical perspective on the editing of Jain Agamas, highlighting the importance of sound principles in textual reconstruction.
• Historical Linguistics: It sheds light on the historical development of Prakrit languages, particularly Ardhamagadhi, and its relationship with other contemporary languages like Pali and Asokan Prakrit.
• Methodology for Restoration: Chandra offers a framework for scholars seeking to restore the original character of the Ardhamagadhi canonical texts, emphasizing the need to prioritize ancient readings preserved in manuscripts and early commentaries.
• Advocacy for Ardhamagadhi's Distinctiveness: The work strongly asserts Ardhamagadhi's distinct identity as an ancient language, predating and differing from Maharastri and Sauraseni Prakrits.

In essence, "Prachin Ardhamagadhi ki Khoj me" is a scholarly investigation into the linguistic foundations of Jainism's foundational texts. K.R. Chandra systematically dissects the evolution of Ardhamagadhi, critiques modern editorial practices, and advocates for the restoration of its original form based on careful linguistic analysis and historical evidence.