Prakrit Tatha Apbhramsa Shodh Me Karya Ki Dishaye

This document, "Prakrit tatha Apbhramsa Shodh me Karya ki Dishaye" (Directions of Work in Prakrit and Apabhramsa Research) by Devendra Kumar Jain, is a comprehensive overview of the historical development and contemporary directions of research in Prakrit and Apabhramsa languages and literature, with a particular focus on Jain textual traditions.

The author begins by tracing the introduction of Sanskrit to the West, noting that the study of Pali and Prakrit as languages only began in the 18th century, prior to which there was little knowledge of their literature. Sir William Jones is credited with drawing significant scholarly attention to Sanskrit, while Charles Wilkins' study of the Abhijnanashakuntala marks an early mention of Prakrit studies. Early orientalists like Henry Colebrooke made significant contributions to understanding Prakrit, Sanskrit-Prakrit prosody, philosophy, Jainism, and Buddhism.

The modern era of research in these areas, particularly within Jain literature, started with the discovery of Jain manuscripts. The 19th century saw the systematic collection and cataloging of these manuscripts, with scholars like Dr. J.G. Bühler playing a pivotal role. Bühler's discovery and sending of 500 Jain manuscripts to the Berlin Library in 1866 was a landmark event. His subsequent research on Jainism, published as "The Indian Sect of the Jains," highlighted the religion's spread beyond India and its goal of liberation for all beings.

German scholars are emphasized as pioneers in Jain studies. Albrecht Weber, after studying the manuscripts sent by Bühler, produced a monumental work titled "Indischen Studien" in 1882. Weber's critical edition of Dhaneśvarasūri's "Śatruñjaya Māhātmya" in 1858 and his research on the Śvetāmbara Āgama text "Bhagavatī Sūtra" are highlighted as particularly significant. The text notes that Berlin became a major center for Jain studies, with numerous German scholars like Hofer, Lassen, Weber, Jacobi, Schubring, and others contributing immensely.

France is identified as another important center for Prakrit and Jain studies, with scholars like Émile Senart making significant contributions. Senart's "Essai de bibliographie jain" (1906) is a valuable bibliography, and his work on Jain epigraphs is also noted. The importance of bibliographical work for research is stressed, referencing the efforts of German scholar Ernst Leumann and later Klatt, who was unfortunately unable to complete his extensive index of Jain manuscripts. Indian scholars also began contributing, with the Asiatic Society of Bengal's catalog of Sanskrit manuscripts, and later works by Bhandarkar, Suparśvadās Gupta, Dalal, and Lalchandra Gandhi, being important milestones. More recent contributions include catalogs by H.D. Velankar, Hiralaal Rasikdas Kapadia, Kasturchand Kasaliwal, and Muni Vijayji. Walter Schubring's comprehensive catalog of Jain manuscripts published in 1944 in Leipzig is considered a highly significant contribution.

The author then outlines three main streams of research in Prakrit and Apabhramsa:

1. Literary Study: This primarily involves the study of Jain Āgama literature. German scholars are credited with bringing these texts to light. Dr. Hermann Jacobi is considered a key figure in the systematic study of Prakrit Jain texts, editing works like the "Bhagavatī Sūtra," "Kalpasūtra," "Ācārāṅga Sūtra," and "Uttarādhyayana Sūtra." His work on Jain narrative literature, including "Upamitibhavaprappañcakathā" and "Kaṭhāsaṅgraha," is also mentioned. The publication of Apabhramsa texts like "Bhaviṣayattakahā" is noted as a significant achievement of German scholarship. Other notable German contributors in this area include Oldenberg, Schubring, and Kelle. Indian scholars like Dr. Ādināth Nemināth Upādhye, Dr. Hīrālāl Jain, Pt. Bechardas Doshi, Pt. Kailashchandra, Pt. Phoolchandra Siddhantashastri, Pt. Sukhlal Sanghvi, Pt. Dalsukhbhai Malvania, and Dr. H.C. Bhayani are also recognized for their extensive editorial and scholarly work on Jain manuscripts and literature. The author himself has made significant contributions by publishing numerous Apabhramsa works.

2. Cultural Study: This encompasses the broader cultural and historical aspects of Jainism. Scholars like Zimmer and Smith are mentioned for their historical contributions. F.W. Thomas's English translation of Ācārya Hemacandra's "Syādvādamañjarī" and R. Williams' work on "Jain Yoga" are highlighted. Colette Kellner's work on Jain monastic and lay conduct is also noted.

3. Linguistic Study: This area focuses on the phonology, morphology, syntax, and etymology of Prakrit and Apabhramsa. The influence of Prakrit on Sanskrit dramas is discussed, referencing the work of Richard Pischel, Sylvain Lévi, and Dr. Keith. Specific studies on Shauraseni, Paishachi, Maharashtri, Ardhamagadhi, and Magadhi are mentioned, with scholars like R. Schmidt, George Grierson, Jacobi, Oldenberg, W.E. Kirk, and A. Banerjee being prominent. Nitti Dolci's comprehensive grammar "Les Grammaires Prakrites" and his critical editions of Purushottam's "Prākr̥tānuśāsana" and Rāmaśarman Tarkavāgīśa's "Prākr̥ta-kalpataru" are significant contributions from French scholarship. Richard Pischel's "Grammatik der Prakrit-Sprachen" is considered a foundational work.

The author further details linguistic research into prefixes, suffixes, phonetics, and pronunciation by scholars like R.L. Turner and K.R. Norman. Louis H. Gray's study of Indo-Aryan morphology and comparisons with Sanskrit are mentioned. The contributions of scholars like Jules Bloch, Edgerton, and K.R. Norman in this field are recognized. Syntactic studies by Oldenberg, K. Devries, and H. Hendriksen are also noted, along with research on the influence of Dravidian and other non-Aryan languages on Prakrit by scholars like K. Amrit Rao and Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterji.

Etymological and lexicographical studies are discussed, with W.N. Brown's work on Jain Maharashtri Prakrit being significant. Gray's attempt to establish Indo-European origins for some Prakrit words is also mentioned. The influence of Prakrit on Sanskrit is explored through the works of Geiger, H. Oertel, A.C. Woolner, J. Bloch, and Emeneau.

In conclusion, the author emphasizes that while significant progress has been made in Prakrit and Apabhramsa research, particularly in literary and linguistic studies, there are still vast areas that require further exploration. He calls upon the younger generation of scholars to dedicate themselves to this field, promising that such efforts will lead to new discoveries and a richer understanding of cultural heritage. The text highlights the need for more dedicated and laborious work to unlock the full potential of these ancient languages and their rich literary traditions.