________________
Fragments of the earliest Eastern Prakrit Grammarians* (sākalya, Māņdavya, Kohala and Kapila)
DR. SATYA RANJAN BANERJEE
AT the top of the Eastern School mention may be made of Sākalya,
Māndavya, Kohala and Kapila, the earliest reference to whom as Prakrit grammarians is found in the works of Purusottamal, Rāmatarkavāgiấal and Markandeyal, who occasionally adopt their views in their treatises of Prakrit grammar. Markandeya, while referring, with warm admiration, to his predecessors on whom he depended mentions not only sākalya and Kohala but also Bhara, Vararuci, Bhămaha and Vasantarāja in the preamble of his grammar PrākstaSarvasva.2 Mandavya is mentioned only by Rāmatarkavägisa. Kapila is referred to by both Rāmaśarma and Märkandeya. As all these authors belong to the eastern school, it is, therefore, possible to surmise
* Paper Read at the 22nd session of the All India Oriental Conference,
1960. 1 For all these references, vide Appendix.
Sākalya - Bharata - Kohala - Vararuci - Bhämaha - Vasantarājādyaiḥ/ proktan granthān nānālaksyāņi ca nipuņam alokya// avyäkirņam visadam säram svalpäkşara-grathitapadyam/Märkandeya-kavindraḥ Prākrta-sarvasvam ārabhate//
Jain Education International
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
