Prakrit Sahitya Ki Vividhta Aur Vishalta

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Prakrit Sahitya ki Vividhta aur Vishalta" by Agarchand Nahta:

This text, "The Diversity and Vastness of Prakrit Literature," by the renowned researcher Agarchand Nahta, explores the expansive and multifaceted world of Prakrit literature, a key component of Jain literary heritage.

The Nature and Evolution of Prakrit:

The author begins by defining Prakrit as the natural language of human speech, which evolved into various forms and names due to differences in region and time. Key amongst these were Ardhamagadhi, Maharashtri, Shauraseni, and Paishachi. While Prakrit as a spoken language is ancient, its literary corpus is not as old as the Vedic Sanskrit of the Vedas.

Prakrit and Jainism:

Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha, contemporaries who traveled similar regions, both propagated their teachings in the vernacular. The language of Buddhist Tripitakas became known as Pali, while Lord Mahavir's teachings in the Jain Agamas are preserved in Ardhamagadhi. The prominence of Magadhi is attributed to the influence of the Magadha region and Lord Mahavir's extensive stay there. The term "Ardhamagadhi" signifies a blend of Magadhi with languages from other regions due to the movement of people and Lord Mahavir's travels, ensuring his message was understood by all.

As Jainism spread westward and southward, the literature of the Shvetambara sect adopted Maharashtri Prakrit, while the Digambara sect's literature utilized Shauraseni Prakrit. Prakrit enjoyed widespread influence for centuries. However, as languages are dynamic, Prakrit transformed into Apabhramsha around the 5th-6th century CE. Apabhramsha also boasts a significant body of Jain literature, and it served as the precursor to all North Indian vernaculars, including Rajasthani, Gujarati, and Hindi, which subsequently developed rich Jain literary traditions.

Prakrit's Influence on Sanskrit and Epigraphy:

The pervasive influence of Prakrit is evident in Sanskrit drama, where prominent poets like Kalidasa and Bhasa incorporated a substantial portion in Prakrit, representing the language of the common people. Numerous inscriptions also bear Prakrit inscriptions, providing valuable insights into the various forms and evolution of the language.

The Uniqueness and Neglected Aspects of Prakrit Literature:

While other religious communities or societies may not have the same depth of Prakrit literature as Jainism, scholars from non-Jain backgrounds have also contributed by creating Prakrit grammars and some poetic works. This demonstrates that Prakrit was not entirely abandoned even with the rise of Sanskrit's influence.

The author stresses that Prakrit literature is incredibly diverse and vast, with many smaller works yet to be fully uncovered and publicized. He emphasizes that these seemingly minor works are often profound and inspirational, encapsulating the essence of larger texts for easier memorization. Many such "Prakaran" (short treatises) and "Kulak" (collections) remain unpublished and risk being lost. The author advocates for their compilation and publication, highlighting their presence in scattered manuscripts and collection copies. He also calls for a comprehensive cataloging of these collection copies and "Gutakas" to identify both well-known and unknown/unpublished works.

Categories and Forms of Prakrit Literature:

Prakrit literature can be broadly categorized into:

• Agamic Literature: Including Agamas, Angas, Upangas, Chand (meter), and Sutra-Mula (root sutras).
• Philosophical Literature: Such as "Sammati Prakaran."
• Didactic Literature: A long tradition exemplified by works like "Upadesha Mala."
• Prakaran Literature: Hundreds of short treatises covering topics like "Jiva Vichar," "Nava Tattva," "Dandak," "Kshetra Samasa," "Sanghayani," and "Karma Granth."
• Biographical Literature: Hundreds of narrative poems related to great personalities.
• Narrative Literature: Both prose and verse, with numerous short and long stories found independently and within commentaries.
• General Utility Literature: Including grammars, prosody, lexicons, rhetoric, and other poetic treatises.

Specific examples mentioned include "Paiya Lachhi Nama Mala" and "Jayadaman Chhand" for lexicons and meters. The author notes "Alankar Dappan" as a singular work on rhetoric, found in a palm-leaf manuscript, and published with a Hindi translation. He also mentions his nephew, Bhanwarlal, who has published works like "Jivadaya Prakaran," "Nana Vritaka Prakaran," and "Balabodha Prakaran" with Hindi translations, and translated Thakur Feru's works ("Dhatotpatti," "Dravya Pariksha," "Ratna Pariksha").

Unavailability of Prakrit Works:

A significant portion of Prakrit literature is now unavailable. Examples include many treatises mentioned in the "Dash Dashava" section of the "Sthananga Sutra" and those listed under "Samyak Sutra" and "Mithya Sutra" in the "Nandi Sutra," such as "Mahakalpa," "Mahapannavana," "Vijjacharana," and many others. The unavailability of several beautiful Prakrit narrative works, like Padaliptasuri's "Tarangavati Katha" and "Naravahanayatakatha" mentioned in "Visheshavashyak Bhashya," is also noted. The author also points out the existence of works with ancient titles but later composition, like "Yoni Pahuda," and the original "Prashnavyakarana Sutra" being unavailable, though a copy exists in Nepal.

The Importance of Exploration and Publication:

The author highlights the discovery of an unknown "Bindudishasutra" and the need to search for more such unknown works. He also mentions the rediscovery of "Taragana" by Acharya Bappabhattisuri. He advocates for the prompt publication of the Prakrit erotic treatise "Madan Mukuta," composed by Gosal Brahmin, which was found in a complete manuscript.

Apabhramsha Literature and its Significance:

Apabhramsha literature holds immense importance from various perspectives, including its role in the evolution of ancient Indian culture, literary traditions, and linguistics. Prakrit is the source of vernacular languages, with numerous folk words transitioning through Apabhramsha into modern usage. Grammatical suffixes and other linguistic elements also show connections to Prakrit. The author refers to articles in "Shraman" and "Jain Bharti" that cite hundreds of words with Prakrit origins, not Sanskrit. Many words from Jain Agamas, with minor changes, are still spoken in regional languages today.

Prakrit's influence on popular poetic forms and idioms is also evident in Apabhramsha and regional languages, with many proverbs still in use today. The cultural significance of Prakrit literature is paramount, as it offers a more realistic portrayal of common life compared to Sanskrit literature, whose scholars were often court-dependent. Jain monks, as the primary creators of Prakrit literature, aimed to reach the masses with simple language, folk tales, and parables. Dr. Motichandra and others have praised the cultural significance of works like "Kuvalayamala."

The Continuous Tradition of Prakrit Composition:

Despite the rise of Sanskrit and vernacular languages in the medieval period, the tradition of Prakrit composition has continued unbroken. The author notes that current Acharyas like Vijaypadmasuri and Vijaykasturisuri are actively writing in Prakrit, and Muni Chandanmuni's Sanskrit work "Rayanval Katha" has been published. He emphasizes the need for a chronological bibliography of Prakrit works from each century to understand the progress and continuous flow of Prakrit literature over two and a half millennia.

Call for Publication and Preservation:

The author urges the publication of numerous unpublished medieval Prakrit texts. He suggests a series similar to the "Sanskrit Series" of the Kavya Mala for the publication of small Prakrit works, which are at risk of disappearing. He notes that many collection copies and scattered manuscripts dating from the 12th century onwards have been largely overlooked.

Conclusion:

The text concludes by reiterating the vastness of Prakrit literature, with new discoveries constantly being made. The author calls for a quarterly journal dedicated to Prakrit language and literature to disseminate information about smaller works and major texts. He highlights that the evolution of Hindi, Rajasthani, and Gujarati poetic forms and language can often be traced back to Apabhramsha and, ultimately, to Prakrit, with poets themselves sometimes referring to the vernacular as "Prakrit." He notes that while some Digambara Apabhramsha heroic poems have been published, Shvetambara Apabhramsha literature, with its greater diversity, remains understudied. The author emphasizes his efforts in publishing such works to aid in the study of ancient poetic forms and language development.