Prakrit Sahitya Ka Itihas - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of "Prakrit Sahitya Ka Itihas" (History of Prakrit Literature) by Jagdishchandra Jain, based on the provided text:

Book Title: Prakrit Sahitya Ka Itihas (History of Prakrit Literature) Author: Dr. Jagdishchandra Jain Publisher: Chaukhamba Vidyabhavan Time Period Covered: 500 BCE to 1800 CE

Overall Goal and Significance: The book aims to be the first comprehensive, chronologically presented history of Prakrit literature. The author highlights that while Prakrit has been studied, a systematic and critical historical analysis has been lacking. This work intends to fill that gap, showcasing the rich and diverse contributions of Prakrit literature to Indian history and culture.

Key Arguments and Themes:

The Nature and Origin of Prakrit:
- The author refutes the notion that Prakrit is merely a corrupted form of Sanskrit. Instead, drawing on scholars like Namisadhu (commentator on Rudrat's Kavyalankara), it is argued that Prakrit is the natural, unadulterated speech of all beings, from which Sanskrit, with its grammatical refinements and regional variations, evolved. Sanskrit was the language of the educated elite, while Prakrit was the language of the common people, understood by children, women, and the illiterate.
- The use of "chandas" for literary language and "bhasha" for spoken language by Panini further indicates the antiquity and popularity of Prakrit.
- Buddha and Mahavir preached in Prakrit languages for the benefit of the masses.
Scope and Periodization of Prakrit Literature:
- The history spans approximately 2500 years, from the 5th century BCE to the 18th century CE.
- Prakrit literature encompasses a vast range of subjects including religious narratives, biographies, hymns, folk tales, poetry, drama, grammar, metrics, lexicons, and treatises on economics, music, and prognostication.
- The author divides Indian Aryan languages into three periods:
  - Ancient Indian Aryan: ~1500 BCE - 500 BCE (Vedic Sanskrit, early forms of Sanskrit)
  - Medieval Indian Aryan: 500 BCE - 1100 CE (Pali, Prakrit, early Apabhramsha) - This is considered the "Prakrit era."
  - Modern Indian Aryan: 1100 CE - Present (Apabhramsha and its dialects)
Evolution and Types of Prakrit:
- Prakrit underwent significant evolution, manifesting in various forms like Paishachi, Magadhi, Ardhamagadhi, Shauraseni, and Maharashtri.
- Prakrit influenced Sanskrit, just as Sanskrit influenced Prakrit.
- Apabhramsha emerged from Prakrit and later gave rise to modern Indian languages like Braj, Awadhi, Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Rajasthani, and Punjabi.
- Specific Prakrits mentioned and discussed include:
  - Pali: The language of the Buddhist Tipitaka, often equated with Magadhi.
  - Ashoka's Prakrit: Found in his edicts, written in Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts.
  - Ardhamagadhi: The language of the Jain Agamas, also called "Arsha" (language of Rishis).
  - Shauraseni: The language of the Shursena region (Mathura area), prevalent in the Middle country, used for dialogue of male characters of higher classes in Sanskrit drama, and later for Digambara Jain scriptures.
  - Maharashtri: Known for its lyrical and poetic quality, used in works like the Gaha Sattasai and Setubandha.
  - Paishachi: An ancient dialect, found in the Kharosthi inscriptions from Chinese Turkestan, with significant Iranian, Tocharian, and Mongolian influences. Known for its use in works like Gunadhya's Brihatkatha.
  - Magadhi: Primarily associated with the Magadha region, mentioned in Bharata's Natyashastra, but with less independent literary output compared to others.
Jain Literature as a Major Component:
- A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the vast corpus of Jain literature written in Prakrit, particularly the Jain Agamas and their commentaries.
- The compilation and revision of Jain Agamas occurred from the 5th century BCE to the 5th century CE.
- Commentarial literature (Niryukti, Bhashya, Chunni, Tikka) on these Agamas enriched Prakrit literature from the 2nd century CE to the 16th century CE.
- The author details the various categories of Jain texts, including Angas, Upangas, Chedasutras, Moolasutras, Prakirnakas, Niryuktis, Bhashyas, Chunnis, and Tikas, highlighting their importance for understanding ancient Indian society, religion, and history.
- The book discusses the language of the Agamas as Ardhamagadhi and notes the influence of other Prakrits.
Prakrit in Sanskrit Drama:
- From the 1st century CE to the 18th century CE, Prakrit was extensively used in Sanskrit drama.
- Higher-ranking male characters and queens spoke Sanskrit, while women, jesters, servants, and lower-ranking characters spoke Prakrit. Suttaka literature, like Karpuramanjari, exclusively used Prakrit, indicating its importance in stage performances and entertainment.
Grammar, Metrics, and Lexicography in Prakrit:
- Following the tradition of Sanskrit, grammars, works on metrics, and lexicons were composed in Prakrit.
- Scholars like Anandavardhana, Dhananjaya, Bhojaraja, Ruyyaka, Mammata, Hemachandra, and Vishwanatha utilized Prakrit verses as examples in their works on poetics, highlighting the excellence of Prakrit poetry.
Other Classical Literature in Prakrit:
- Important works were written in Prakrit on economics, politics, eroticism, omens, physiognomy, astrology, and gemology, though many are now lost.
Prakrit Literature's Contribution to Indian Languages:
- Prakrit literature played a crucial role in the development of modern Indian languages through its evolution into Apabhramsha and subsequently into regional vernaculars. Therefore, studying Prakrit literature is vital for understanding the history of Indian languages and literature.
Author's Motivation and Acknowledgements:
- Dr. Jagdishchandra Jain's interest in Prakrit literature stemmed from his doctoral thesis on "Depiction of Ancient India in Jain Agamas" (1945).
- He acknowledges the support of Muni Jinavijaya and Muni Punyavijaya, as well as scholars like Pandit Sukhlalji and Dr. Hiralal Jain, and the publishers, Chowkambha Vidyabhavan. He also thanks his students for their assistance.

Structure of the Book (based on the Table of Contents):

Chapter 1: Classification of Languages (Discusses Indo-European languages, Aryan languages, and the three stages of Indian Aryan languages, including Pali and Prakrit).
Chapter 2: Jain Agama Literature (From 5th Century BCE to 5th Century CE, discussing the Agamas, their languages, and their importance).
Chapter 3: Commentary Literature on Agamas (From 2nd Century CE to 16th Century CE, covering Niryuktis, Bhashyas, Chunnis, and Tikas).
Chapter 4: Ancient Scriptures of the Digambara Sect (From 1st Century CE to 16th Century CE, detailing texts like Shatkhandagama, Kashayapahuda, Tiloyapannatti, etc.).
Chapter 5: Post-Agamic Jain Literature Related to Jainism (From 6th Century CE to 10th Century CE, covering general texts, philosophical works, doctrinal texts, karmic texts, and new karmic texts).
Chapter 6: Prakrit Narrative Literature (From 4th Century CE to 17th Century CE, discussing the importance of stories, various narrative forms, and the concept of "Prakrit Kathanak Sahitya ka Navya Utkarshakal").
Chapter 7: Prakrit Charita Literature (From 4th Century CE to 17th Century CE, covering biographies of monks, kings, and historical figures).
Chapter 8: Prakrit Poetic Literature (From 1st Century CE to 18th Century CE, discussing lyric poetry, epic poems like Setubandha and Gaudavaho).
Chapter 9: Prakrit in Sanskrit Dramas (From 1st Century CE to 18th Century CE, analyzing the use of Prakrit by playwrights like Ashvaghosha, Bhasa, Kalidasa, Shriharsha, Bhavabhuti, and the nature of Suttaka literature).
Chapter 10: Prakrit Grammar, Metrics, and Rhetoric Literature (From 6th Century CE to 18th Century CE, covering Prakrit grammars, metric works, and works on rhetoric).
Chapter 11: Classical Prakrit Literature (From 1st Century CE to 14th Century CE, including Arthashastra and other classical works).
Conclusion and Appendices:
- Concluding Remarks
- Appendix 1: Glossary of some Prakrit texts.
- Appendix 2: List of Prakrit verses in Rhetoric literature.
- Appendix 3: Bibliography of reference books.
- Index

In essence, Dr. Jagdishchandra Jain's "Prakrit Sahitya Ka Itihas" is a foundational work that meticulously traces the historical development, linguistic evolution, and thematic diversity of Prakrit literature, with a special emphasis on the significant contributions of Jain scholars and texts.