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Wright, J. Clifford (2017) 'The Jain Prakrit Origin of the Vetāla.' Jaina Studies - Newsletter of the Centre of Jaina Studies, 12. pp. 34-35.

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Abstract

In the absence of any other plausible etymology, there is thus reason to believe that the Vaitālīya metre takes its name from the subject-matter of its most important attestation in Jain literature, i.e., the destruction (vidāraṇa) of Karma. It is precisely in Jain Prakrit that we find, coupled with vestiges of Magadhi -l- for -r-, an orthographic -t- replacing -d- and the other lost intervocalic stop consonants. Appropriately, the early canonical text Uttarajjhāyā 20, v. 44, presents the veyāla as a purely destructive demon, murderous if not exorcised (avipanna).

Item Type: Journal Article
Keywords: Origin of Vaitālīya metre, Name of the Vaitālīya metre, Jaina Prakrit
SOAS Departments & Centres: Legacy Departments > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Department of the Study of Religions > Centre of Jaina Studies
ISSN: 20594151
Copyright Statement: With permission of the editors.
Date Deposited: 03 Apr 2017 13:10
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/23834

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