In Search of Regional/Local (deśī) Words for ‘Intoxicant’ in First-Millennium India

While, as a consequence of recent studies, we can now have a good image of ‘intoxicant’ in Sanskrit literature, the same is not true for Middle Indo-Aryan literature, except perhaps for Pāli. In this paper two texts written in Prakrit and Ardha-Māgadhī respectively will be taken into examination, focusing especially on those words not linked to Sanskrit tradition, and normally known as deśī, ‘regional’, words. In particular, the second text analysed, which is part of the Jain Śvetāmbara Canon, will give me the opportunity to look at the use of deśī words meaning ‘intoxicant’ and/or concerning ‘drinking culture’ in the Deśīnāmamālā, Hemacandra’s lexicon of Prakrit deśī words. The result of the analysis reveals that local, regional ‘drinking traditions’, in some cases part of non-Indo-Aryan ethno linguistic groups, can be found beside the pan-indian, cosmopolitan Sanskrit culture.