Prakrit Evam Sanskrit Sahitya Ke Jain Aalekh - Book Summary

This document is a comprehensive summary of the book "Prakrit evam Sanskrit Sahitya ke Jain Aalekh" (Jain Articles on Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature) by Dr. Sagarmal Jain, published by Prachya Vidyapith Shajapur. The book is a collection of Dr. Sagarmal Jain's scholarly articles focusing on Jain literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit.

Here's a breakdown of the key information and content presented:

Book Details:

Title: Prakrit evam Sanskrit Sahitya ke Jain Aalekh (Jain Articles on Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature)
Author: Dr. Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapith Shajapur (M.P.)
Series: Prachya Vidyapith Granthamala, Volume 54 (Part 2 and Part 3 of the collection are mentioned, indicating it's a multi-volume work).
Content: Articles related to various aspects of Jain literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit.
Author's Background: Dr. Sagarmal Jain is described as a prolific scholar of Jain Vidya and other Indian disciplines, with over 320 published articles and numerous introductions to books. His writings have appeared in various journals and books over 50 years.
Publication Effort: The publisher highlights the significant effort in collecting and re-typing scattered articles, acknowledging collaborators for typing and proofreading.

Table of Contents (Key Articles and Topics Covered):

The book systematically explores Jain contributions to Prakrit and Sanskrit literature. The main topics covered in the initial sections include:

A Survey of Jain Prakrit Literature: An overview of the Prakrit literature created by Jains.
Jain Agama Literature in Prakrit: A Discussion: A detailed examination of the Jain scriptural literature written in Prakrit.
The Place, Importance, Composition Period, and Authors of Prakirnaka in Agama Literature: Focus on a specific category of Jain scriptural texts.
Upanga Literature: An Analytical Discussion: An in-depth analysis of the Upanga texts.
Prakrit Niyukti Literature: A Reconsideration: A re-evaluation of the Niyukti literature in Prakrit.
The Contribution of the Jain Shraman Tradition to Sanskrit Language and Literature: Highlighting the impact of Jain scholars on Sanskrit.
Jain Philosophical Literature: Discussion of Jain philosophical works.

Key Themes and Arguments from the Text (based on the provided pages):

The Interplay of Vedic and Shraman Traditions: The text emphasizes that Indian culture has always had parallel streams of Vedic and Shraman traditions. Jainism is presented as a part of the Shraman tradition.
Language in Indian Traditions: The Vedic tradition is strongly associated with Sanskrit, while the Shraman tradition, including Jainism, primarily utilized vernacular or Prakrit languages. The text lists various Prakrit dialects used by Jains, such as Ardhamagadhi, Shauraseni, Maharashtri, and Apabhramsha.
The Origin of Prakrit and Sanskrit: The book delves into the debate about whether Prakrit evolved from Sanskrit or vice versa, concluding that Prakrit evolved from various dialects, and Sanskrit is a refined form.
Jain Agama Literature: A significant portion of the text discusses the classification, content, and antiquity of Jain Agama literature. It mentions the differences in acceptance of Agamas between the Shvetambara and Digambara traditions.
- Classification: The Agamas are broadly classified into Anga-pravishta (12 Angas) and Anga-bāhya. The text details the names of the Angas and various classifications of Anga-bāhya texts, including Upangas, Chhedasutras, Moolasutras, Prakirnakas, and Chulikasutras.
- Antiquity: The text argues for the antiquity of Prakrit Jain literature, stating that texts like Achārānga's first Shrutaskandha and Rishibhashit (Isibhāsiyaim) are older than Ashokan Prakrit inscriptions, dating back to the 5th-4th century BCE.
- Historical Context: The compilation and editing of Agamas through various Vachanas (recensions) are discussed, including the Pataliputra, Khāravela (Kumaar Parvat), Mathura (Skandila), and Vallabhi (Nagarjuna and Devardhi Gani) Vachanas. The text emphasizes that the Vallabhi Vachana (5th century CE) was a codification and editing process, not the original composition time.
- Authorship and Evolution: The authorship of Agamas is generally attributed to Ganadharas and later Acharyas. The text highlights that over time, there were changes, additions, and omissions in the Agama texts, making the study of their original form complex.
Niyukti, Bhashya, Churni, and Tika Literature: The book elaborates on the secondary literature that explains the Agamas, tracing their development from Niyuktis (brief explanations) to Bhashyas (commentaries), Churnis (prose explanations, often mixed language), and Sanskrit Tīkās. The dating and authorship of these explanatory works are discussed, with a particular focus on the complex question of the author of Niyuktis.
Prakirnaka Literature: The significance, content, and dating of Prakirnaka texts are explored. The text suggests that initially, all texts outside the Angas might have been considered Prakirnakas, and the later concept of ten Prakirnakas is considered more recent. The importance of Prakirnakas for understanding Jain cosmology, geography, astrology, and ritual practices is highlighted.
Sanskrit Literature by Jains: A substantial part of the book is dedicated to the vast contribution of Jain scholars to Sanskrit literature. This includes:
- Philosophical Literature: Works on Jain metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics written in Sanskrit, starting with Umāsvāti's Tattvārthasūtra. Prominent philosophers like Siddhasena, Samantabhadra, Pujyapada, Akalanka, Vidyananda, Haribhadra, and Hemachandra are discussed.
- Biographical and Historical Works: Numerous Sanskrit works recounting the lives of Mahapurushas, Tirthankaras, Chakravartis, and influential Acharyas (e.g., Trishti Shalaka Purusha Charitra, Prabandhas, Pattāvalīs).
- Poetry and Drama: Jain poets and playwrights who contributed to Sanskrit kavya and nataka, including Hemachandra, Ramachandra, and Hastimalla.
- Grammar and Lexicography: Jain scholars played a significant role in developing Prakrit and Sanskrit grammars and dictionaries.
- Other Disciplines: The text also touches upon Jain contributions to arts, sciences like mathematics, astrology, and politics, all documented in Sanskrit.
Language Evolution and Influence: The book traces the evolution of Jain literature from Prakrit dialects (Ardhamagadhi, Shauraseni, Maharashtri) to Sanskrit and later to Apabhramsha, analyzing the linguistic influences and contributions.

Overall Significance:

"Prakrit evam Sanskrit Sahitya ke Jain Aalekh" is a scholarly work that aims to systematically document and analyze the rich literary heritage of Jainism in Prakrit and Sanskrit. It highlights the foundational role of Jain Agamas and the extensive explanatory literature, as well as the significant contributions of Jain Acharyas to various genres of Sanskrit literature, including philosophy, poetry, drama, and grammar. The book emphasizes the antiquity and evolving nature of Jain scriptures and the intellectual prowess of Jain scholars in shaping Indian literary and philosophical traditions.