Sanskrit chanda-shastra me Hemachandracharya ka Pradan

Summary

This Hindi article examines the contribution of the 12th‑century Jain polymath Hemachandra to Sanskrit prosody. Hemachandra is renowned for his encyclopaedic works on grammar, lexicography, poetics and history. In his treatise Chandogranushasana he turned his attention to chandaśāstra—the study of poetic metres. Completed after his grammars and alankara treatises, Chandogranushasana is organised into eight chapters and contains approximately 745 sūtras. Hemachandra’s innovation lies in treating Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhraṃśa metres in a single compendium, demonstrating his desire to harmonise classical and vernacular poetic traditions. The article explains that earlier works like Pingala’s Chandahsutra focused largely on Sanskrit metres, whereas Hemachandra documented patterns used in Jain literature and regional languages. Of the 745 sūtras, around 483 describe Sanskrit metres while the rest address Prakrit and Apabhraṃśa forms. Hemachandra revived the use of concise aphoristic sūtras in place of long descriptions and provided his own commentary and examples to ensure clarity. He introduced a novel system of notating metrical patterns: vowels a, i, u and ṛ denote ganas (groups of syllables) while consonants mark pauses (yati) within a line. This mnemonic device helps poets and students memorise complex metres. The article discusses some of the specific metres Hemachandra described and notes his classification based on syllable count, patterns of light and heavy syllables and rhythm. It highlights Hemachandra’s emphasis on musicality and the ethical dimension of poetry; he argues that proper rhythm enhances the listener’s receptivity to moral teachings. By incorporating Prakrit and Apabhraṃśa metres, Hemachandra legitimised vernacular literary forms and influenced subsequent generations of Jain poets. The author concludes that Chandogranushasana is not just a technical manual but a bridge between linguistic communities. It reflects Hemachandra’s broad scholarship and his commitment to preserving and systematising India’s diverse poetic heritage. The work remains an important source for scholars of Sanskrit prosody and offers insight into the literary culture of medieval Gujarat.