Prakrit Proper Names Part 2 - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prakrit Proper Names Part 2," compiled by Mohanlal Mehta, K R Chandra, and Dalsukh Malvania, and published by L D Indology Ahmedabad in 1972.

Book Title: Prakrit Proper Names Part 2 Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta, K R Chandra Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad Year: 1972 Series: Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Series, No. 37 Focus: This book is part of the "ĀGAMIC INDEX" project, specifically Volume I, Part 1, which is the Dictionary of Prakrit Proper Names. Part 2, therefore, completes the dictionary project. The authors express their intention to undertake a dictionary of technical terms in Jaina canonical works as the next project.

Key Aspects of the Summary:

Completion of a Project: Part 2 marks the completion of the "Dictionary of Prakrit Proper Names" project.
Acknowledgement of Assistance: Dalsukh Malvania, the General Editor, expresses gratitude for the financial assistance from the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Index and Irregularities: The delay in publishing Part 2 is attributed to the addition of an index. Gratitude is extended to Ramesh Malvania, son of Dalsukh Malvania, for his work on the index and for identifying irregularities in the dictionary entries, including words not found in main entries and diacritical errors. These suggestions will be considered for future editions.
Gratitude to Scholars and Reviewers: The editors thank scholars who provided suggestions during the review of Part 1, which will be considered for a second edition.
Proof Correction: Dr. Nagin J. Shah is thanked for correcting the proofs.
Scope: The text appears to be an extensive lexicon of proper names found in Prakrit literature, likely related to Jaina canonical works, given its inclusion in the "ĀGAMIC INDEX" series.
Content (as exemplified by the provided pages): The pages provided showcase the dictionary's format. Each entry lists a proper name in Prakrit (with its Sanskrit transliteration/equivalent in parentheses), followed by its identification, definition, and citations from various Prakrit texts (indicated by abbreviations like Pras., Jna., Jam., Tir., UttN., UttS., Vis., NisCu., AcaN., etc.). The entries cover a wide range of names, including:
- Places: Apāriya country, Kampillapura, Rāyagiha, Gobbaragāma, Brahmadvipa, Hastinapur, etc.
- People: Titthamkara Malli, Ajjuņa, Gosamkhi, Siridāma, Namdivaddha pa, Bambhadatta, Indasiri, Indajasi, Imdatasu, Culaņi, etc.
- Texts/Chapters: Viyāhapappatti, Pappavaņā, Bamdhadasā.
- Deities and Celestial Beings: Brahmā, Isipabbhārā, Gods in Lambana, Ganhadharas, Jakkha gods, Asurakumāra gods, Nāgakumāra gods, Suvaṇṇakumāra gods, etc.
- Concepts/Classifications: Apāriya country, Ānāriya, Brahmacarin, Ganhadharas, Jakkha, Yakkha, etc.
- Specific Entries Illustrated: The provided pages show entries for "Bamdhuśiri," "Bausa," "Bamdha," "Bamdhadāsā," "Bamdhumai," "Bamdhumati," "Bamdhuya," "Bamdhuvaṭī," "Bardhiusiri," "Bambha" (with multiple meanings), "Bambhakaṁta," "Bambhakappa," "Bambhakūḍa," "Bambhacāri," "Bambhacera," "Bambhacērasamahiṭhāņa," "Bambhajjhaya," "Bambhaṇagāma," "Bambhadatta" (multiple entries), "Bambhadatta-himdi," "Bambhadiva," "Bambhadiviyā," "Bambhaddiva," "Bambhappabha," "Bambhacări," "Bambhalijja," "Bambhalessa," "Bambhaloa," "Bambhalogavaờimsaga," "Bambhavadirsaya," "Bambahavaņņa," "Bambahaliṁga," "Bambahasiṭṭha," "Bambhaseņa," "Bambháņa," "Bambhavatta," "Bambhi," "Bambhi." The entries are meticulously cross-referenced with abbreviations indicating the source texts and specific locations within those texts.
Publishing Details: The publication date is October 1972. The price was Rupees 3.5. The first edition consisted of 1000 copies. Different printers were used for different page ranges, indicating the scale of the project.

Overall Significance:

This work represents a significant scholarly endeavor to catalog and understand the proper names prevalent in Prakrit literature, particularly within the context of Jain canonical texts. The detailed citations provide valuable resources for researchers studying Prakrit language, Jaina literature, history, and culture. The book's structure as a dictionary, offering definitions and textual references, makes it a useful reference tool for scholars. The completion of the dictionary project is highlighted as a major achievement.