Dictionary of Jaina Terms

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About the Author Dr. MUKUL RAJ MEHTA, born in 1960. Completed his School, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts (Indian Philosophy & Religion, Securing Gold Medal from Department of Philosophy & Religion) and Ph. D. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. In 1988, he taught in Punjab University, Chandigarh for 1.1/2 years. From 1990 onwards, he is working in the Deptt. of Philosophy & Religion. B. H. U. presently as Research Scientist B (Reader). His specialization is in Jainism. He has produced Ph. D. scholars and many research papers with already published one book. He has delivered lectures in more than ten Universities abroad. He is member of several academic bodies.

Introduction Ancient Indian Literature was composed mainly in three languages i.e. Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit. Among these three, Pali is nothing but a shade of Prakrit language. As a literary language, Prakrit being a group of various local dilects as Magadhi, Pali, Paisaci, Saurseni, Maharastri, was never developed as a single language but as a group of languages. Various types of Apabhramsa were also developed according to their different places and time. If we consider these three main languages from religious point of view, all the Vedic religious literature are found in Sanskrit while the Jain canonical and Buddhist literature is in Prakrit and Pali respectively. So for as the Jain religious literature of early period is concerned, it was mainly written in Prakrit, known as Prakrit canons. Jainas started writing from 3rd - 4th century A.D. in Sanskrit but, it is worth mentioning that these Sanskrit works were written on Prakrit works either as an independent or in the form of commentaries.

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