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
also applied themselves to several other siclds like Mathematics, astrology, medicine, veterinary science, toxicology, cookery etc, and have produced many interesting books on these subjects. The last notable Jaina contribution to Kannada literature may be said to be in the field of history-rather quasi-history (Jaina traditional history and chronology) i.e., the Rajavasikathe by Devacandra, composed at the instance of a queen of the Mysore Royal Family. The number of Jaina authors in Kannada, as noted by the late M.M.R.Narasimhachar some forty years ago, is about two hundred.22 To this number may be added another hundred found in recent years. A cursory suvey of the Kannada Prantiya Tadapatriya Granthasüci23 and the List of Unmentioned works of the History of Kannada Literature.24 shows that there are numerous Kannada Jaina authors and Jaina works (some without the author's names) awaiting publication. All these are of the nature of commentarius on the Prakrit works of Kundakunda, Vattakera, Kartikeya, Nemicandra, etc., their translations and digests, their imitations, Purānas, Caritas, collections of stories etc.
Conclusion :
The Jaina teachers and scholars happen to be the earliest cultivators of Kannada language for literary purpose. Unfortunately the earlier line of the development of Kannada literature, for the laying of which mainly the Jaina scholars appear to have been responsible, is not traceable. The great Kannada Jaina Commentaries on the pro-canonical works in Prakrit and Sanskrit represent a hidden landmark in the early history of Kannada literature of the 6th and 7th centuries A.D. i.e., prior to the appearance of the Kavirajamārga and a pretty good number of the authors mentioned in it must have been Jaina teachers and scholars. The period between the 9th and 13th centuries A.D., can reasonably called not only the Jaina Period but also the Augustan Age of Kannada Literature, though Jaina authors continued to appear here and there up to the middle of the 19th