Study Prakrit
Manish Modi
Study Prakrit
http://www.navelgazing.net/2016/03/study-prakrit.html
Prakrits are the oldest languages known to mankind. As per the ancient Sanskrit adage, ‘prakrityaa bhavam praakritam’ {Prakrit is that which came into being naturally}.
Ashokan edicts are the oldest inscriptions found in India. They are in Shauraseni Prakrit, and written in the Brahmi script.
Prakrit was a fluid language and existed in many forms:
शौरसेनी Shauraseni - was spoken in and around the ancient kingdom of Shurasena (Mathura). It serves as the reference point for most Prakrit grammarians.
पाली Pali - was spoken in the Eastern region of the Gangetic plains
पैशाची Paishachi - was spoken in the Bahlika regions such as Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan, Quetta, Afghanistan and other parts of Asia lying to the North-West of India
मागधी Magadhi - was spoken in the Magadha region
अर्धमागधी Ardhamagadhi - was spoken in the Western region of the Gangetic plains
महाराष्ट्री Maharashtri - sophisticated later form of Prakrit, was spoken in the Western region of the Deccan plateau, preferred by Prakrit poets because of its innate elegance
अपभ्रंश Apabhramsha - last form of Prakrit, was spoken in Northern India. It metamorphosed into Khadi Boli, Braj, Avadhi, Bundeli, Dhundari, etc.
Prakrit
Unfortunately, not many university departments in India and abroad teach Prakrit. As a consequence, Prakrit is restricted largely to learned Jain renunciants and a handful of lay scholars. They learn Prakrit through the teacher-pupil tradition. Also, there exist some ancient and medieval texts describing Prakrit grammar in great detail. But they have all been written in Sanskrit! Unless you know Sanskrit, you will not be able to use them to learn Prakrit.
Prakrit is used by the Jain community in their daily worship rituals. Hence, the need for an organised and easy to read textbook for learning Prakrit.
Fortunately, there are several books available now, for learning Prakrit either through Hindi or through English.
We stock several well organised and thoughtfully created self study books for those who would like to study Prakrit on their own. The Prakrit learning books use short, easy to grasp lessons to teach students the orthography, consonants, various conjunctions, nouns, pronouns, tenses, genders, conjugations, transitive and intransitive verbs, active voice, passive voice, suffixes, cases, etc. which form the crux of Prakrit syntax. Prakrit is a case-driven language and thorough study of its grammar shall enable the student to be able to read and enjoy the sublime beauty of Prakrit literature.
We are proud to recommend these books to all those who love mother India and her rich and ancient linguistic and cultural heritage.
LEARN PRAKRIT THROUGH HINDI
प्राकृत विद्या प्रवेशिका
PRAKRIT VIDYA PRAVESHIKA
By Elacarya Prajnasagara
Set of 2 books
2015 24 x 16 cm 259 pages
Paperback Rs. 230 for the set
प्राकृत स्वयं-शिक्षक
PRAKRIT SVAYAM-SHIKSHAK
By Prof. Prem Suman Jain
2012 22 x 14 cm 285 pages
Paperback Rs. 200
प्राकृत सुबोध पाठमाला
PRAKRIT SUBODH PATHAMALA
By Dr Tara Daga
2011 22 x 14 cm 156 pages
Paperback Rs. 150
प्राकृत अनुवाद कला (प्राकृत व्याकरण)
PRAKRIT ANUVAD KALA (Prakrit Grammar)
By Dr Snehalata Jain
2012 22 x 14 cm 231 pages
Hardcover Rs. 160
LEARN PRAKRIT THROUGH ENGLISH
PRAKRIT LEARNING MANUAL
By Prof. Prem Suman Jain
Translated into English by Dr Tara Daga
2009 24 x 18.5 cm 208 pages
Paperback Rs. 400
EXCELLENT PRAKRIT DICTIONARIES
अभिधान राजेन्द्र कोश ABHIDHANA RAJENDRA KOSHA
Prakrit - Sanskrit - Hindi Dictionary
A Hindi translation of Acarya Rajendra Suri's 'Abhidhana Rajendra Kosha'
~ Hindi translation by Dr Udaya Chandra Jain
Set of 3 books
Rs. 6000
http://www.navelgazing.net/2015/05/abhidhana-rajendra-kosha-hindi.html
चण्डूकोशम् CANDUKOSHAM : PRAKRIT - ENGLISH DICTIONARY
~ Ippagunta
Rs. 250
प्राकृत - हिन्दी कोश PRAKRIT - HINDI KOSH
~ Dr Uday Chandra Jain
Set of 2 books
Rs. 1600
संस्कृत - प्राकृत - हिन्दी - अँग्रेज़ी कोश
SANSKRIT - PRAKRIT - HINDI - ENGLISH DICTIONARY
~ Dr Uday Chandra Jain
Set of 3 books
Rs. 5000
A COMPREHENSIVE AND CRITICAL DICTIONARY
OF THE PRAKRIT LANGUAGES
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO JAIN LITERATURE
Prakrit - Sanskrit - English
General Editors: Dr AM Ghatage & Dr RP Poddar
Copy Editor: Dr Kamalkumar Jain
Set of 5 books
Rs. 8600
http://www.navelgazing.net/2014/09/a-comprehensive-and-critical-dictionary.html
ENGLISH BOOKS ON PRAKRIT & APABHRAMSHA GRAMMAR
THREE PRAKRIT GRAMMARS
By Dr Saartje Verbeke
Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 35
2010 27 cm x 20 cm 134 pages
Paperback Rs. 300
THE APABHRAMSHA OF SVAYAMBHUDEVA’S PAUMACARIU
A Handbook of Apabhramsha Grammar
By Dr Eva De Clercq
Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 17
2010 22 cm x 14 cm 110 pages
Paperback Rs. 180
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We are proud to make all these books available at our bookstore and through mail order.
At Hindi Granth Karyalay, we have been delighting readers since 1912. We are committed to make the best writings on Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism and South Asian Studies available all over the world. Hence, beside our own publications, we stock and sell books from all the major publishers of India. At our bookstore, which is the oldest in Mumbai, we stock thousands of books on various topics such as religion, philosophy, Indology, literature, poetry, dramatics, art, self-help, yoga, children’s literature, alternative medicine, music, cinema and sports.
We carry books in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Apabhramsha, Gujarati, Urdu, Kannada and Marathi. We also carry huge stocks of graphic novels, children’s literature, popular English novels, etc. We wish to be a one-stop bookstore that caters to different tastes.
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4. A list of our publications
http://www.navelgazing.net/2013/03/a-list-of-our-publications_19.html
5. Directions: How to reach us
http://www.navelgazing.net/2013/04/directions-how-to-reach-hindi-granth.html
Best regards,
Manish Yashodhar Modi
हिन्दी ग्रन्थ कार्यालय
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