Prakrit(page 1) Chronologically pali is the first Sanskrit language and various Prakrits appeared later .Even the meaning of the wordPali underwent changes.In the final stages the word Pali meant language of the texts of Theravada Buddhism .The Tripatika meaning three baskets are books which consist of the canons of the Thersvada sect.One part of it deals with the monastic discplines of Buddhism .And the last part deals with various subjects like ethics psychology theories of knowledge and metaphysical problems. Besides the caninical litrature ,there was also in Pali literature the earlier works relate to the Jataka stories.The early poetry consosted of a few verses from the songs of the older monks and Nuns,a collection of poems ascribed wrongly to the great disciples of the Buddha in the early days of the order.The style of these is simpler then Sanskrit literature and suggests influence of popular song .The book milinda panda is the most important one.Its subject matter is the dialogue between Milinda and monk Nagasena over some problems of the Buddhist faith.This partocular kind of canonical literature in pali was practised in Ceylon also.The classical works .Depavamsa and Mahavamsa ,the two great chronicales of Ceylon and also some grammatical metrical and lexicographical text were written in Pali. Continued.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 08:30:38 +0000
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