Prakrit and Pali Languages

Context:

Prakrit and Pali have been recognized as Classical languages due to their historical and cultural significance.

Prakrits: The Language of the People

  • The term ‘Prakrit’ is derived from ‘Prakriti’, which means ‘source’ or ‘origin’. Most scholars believe that Prakrit languages evolved from Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures.
  • Prakrit is not a singular language; rather, it refers to a group of closely related Indo-Aryan languages. Historian A.L. Basham, in The Wonder That Was India (1954), noted that by the time of the Buddha, the common people were speaking simpler languages compared to Sanskrit.

Notable Prakrits:

  • Magadhi:
    • It was the official language of the Mauryan court and the people of Magadha (modern-day Bihar).
    • Ashoka’s edicts were inscribed in this language, which later influenced the development of Bengali, Assamese, Odia, and Bihari languages such as Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Maithili.
  • Ardhamagadhi:
    • Literally meaning “half-Magadhi,” this was a variation of Magadhi used by Jain scholars.
  • Shauraseni:
    • Spoken in North and Central India, Shauraseni was often used in Sanskrit dramas to represent the speech of women and the lower classes. It later gave rise to languages like Hindustani and Punjabi.

Pali: The Language of the Buddhist Canon

  • Pali is traditionally linked to Magadhi Prakrit, with the word ‘pali’ signifying “lines” or “series.”
  • Pali became the language of the Theravada Buddhist canon, which is central to the teachings of early Buddhism.
  • Though Theravada Buddhism declined in India, Pali remained an important ecclesiastical language in countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, where this school of Buddhism continued to thrive.

Tipitaka (Three Baskets) in Pali:

  • Vinaya Pitaka: Contains the rules and disciplines for the Buddhist monastic order (sangha).
  • Sutta Pitaka: The largest section, comprising discourses, sermons of the Buddha, and religious poetry.
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka: Elaborates on Buddhist philosophy and doctrines.

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