Prakrit, Prakṝt: 6 definitions

Introduction:

Prakrit means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Prakṝt can be transliterated into English as Prakrt or Prakrit, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Prakrit.—In connexion with the dramatic representation, it (the Prakrit recitation) is of three kinds, viz,

  1. that with the same words as in Sanskrit (samāna-śabda),
  2. that with corrupt (vibhraṣṭa) words,
  3. that with words of indigenous origin (deśī).
Natyashastra book cover
context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Prakrit.—Anglicised spelling of Prākṛta, the name of a language. Note: prakrit is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Prakrit refers to one of the four major languages prevalent in ancient India, according to the 8th-century Kuvalayamālā written by Uddyotanasūri, a Prakrit Campū (similar to Kāvya poetry) narrating the love-story between Prince Candrāpīḍa and the Apsaras Kādambarī.—There is a mention of four major languages, namely, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsha and Paishachi; and during the 8th century, vast body of Apabhramsha literature appears to have been already produced. The Paishachi language seems to have been represented by the Bṛhatkathā which had survived in its original form upto the time of Uddyotanasūri. This appears to be very probable since the original Paiśācī Bṛhatkathā was known to Kṣemendra who based his Sanskrit version on it.

India history book cover
context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Prakṝt (प्रकॄत्).—1 U.

1) To announce, proclaim, mention.

2) To name, call.

3) To praise, extol, laud.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Prakṛt (प्रकृत्).—cut off or asunder.

Prakṛt is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pra and kṛt (कृत्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Prakṛt (प्रकृत्):—[=pra-kṛt] -√2. kṛt [Parasmaipada] -kṛntati, ([Epic] also -kartati), to cut off;

—to cut up, cut to pieces, [Atharva-veda; Mahābhārata]

2) Prakṝt (प्रकॄत्):—[=pra-√kṝt] See pra-√kīrt.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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