Ardhamāgadhī
Quick Summary
Ardhamagadhi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language, a type of Prakrit language, used in ancient India. The name "Ardhamagadhi" itself means "half Magadhi," referencing the ancient kingdom of Magadha in eastern India.12
This language holds significant importance as it is the language in which a large part of the Jain canon is written. While related to Sanskrit, Prakrit languages like Ardhamagadhi differ from it, often representing vernacular usage. In dramatic traditions, Ardhamagadhi was assigned to specific character types, such as servants of a king.12
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- South Asian artsLiterature
…own, Pāli in Buddhism and Ardhamāgadhī in Jainism. These languages, usually called Prākrits—that is, derivative as well as more “natural” languages—produced a vast and, again, mostly sacred literature. In a further development of these dialects, the early beginnings can be seen of modern Indo-Aryan languages of northern India: Bengali (also…
Read More…own, Pāli in Buddhism and Ardhamāgadhī in Jainism. These languages, usually called Prākrits—that is, derivative as well as more “natural” languages—produced a vast and, again, mostly sacred literature. In a further development of these dialects, the early beginnings can be seen of modern Indo-Aryan languages of northern India: Bengali (also…
Read More - South Asian artsJaina texts
…and stabilized literary dialect called Ardhamāgadhī (Semi-Māgadhī, Māgadhī being the dialect of the ancient kingdom of Magadha, in present day Bihār). The belletristic contribution of Jaina literature is discussed below.
Read More…and stabilized literary dialect called Ardhamāgadhī (Semi-Māgadhī, Māgadhī being the dialect of the ancient kingdom of Magadha, in present day Bihār). The belletristic contribution of Jaina literature is discussed below.
Read More