Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

SR No.: 001597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 460
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Language
File Size: 22 MB

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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
part of the Karaṇānuyoga, a division of the pro-canon of the Digambaras, that comprises works on cosmography, astronomy and mathematics.
A cursory survey of the contents of one or two cosmographical works from each of the Ardhamāgadhĩ canon and the Pro-canon of the Digambaras, would show us that the general structure and picture of the universe is almost the same; and yet here and there we find some minor differences bearing on nomenclature, enumeration, situation of some geographical units, measurements of areas etc. We also see in these works peculiar logic, rich imagination, prototypical attitude etc., looming large in the course of the detailed description of the parts of the world and its occupants. Prof.Ludwing Alsdorf instituting a comparative investigation of some aspects of Jaina Cosmography as rightly come to the conclusion that there were several progressive stages in the development of the conception of the world on the part of the Jaina Acaryas.
Possibly the core-conception of the world, as scholars like Schubirng think, may have been, in very early days, near to true to the then known geographical facts along with the visible solar system etc., i.e., the conception of the circular-shaped Jambudvipa due to that of the segment Bharata like which the Indian peninsula appeared, the amount Mandara representing the Himalayas, the flowing of the two rivers from a longish lake on cach Vasadhara mountain into the Lavana sea thought after the course of the Sindhu and the Ganga, the conception of the intermediate continents as based on the ancient knowledge of Indo-China and the Malaccha peninsula etc.
Then this core-conception of the world appears to have developed further progressively at some stages with the need and on the line of the interpretation and explanation of some of the Jaina dogmatical, metaphysical and ethical doctrines. The nature of the soul and non-soul, the doctrine of Karman with the inseparable phenomenon of the cycle of life after death and the principle of retribution after every deed etc. in Jainism needed