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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
215
Century A.D. The Jaina literature in Kannada though religious in the main, it also possesses a nuber of secular works produced for the benefit of day-to-day life of the people at large. In respect of antiquity Jaina Literature in Tamil stands first and that in Kannada stands next, not only among South Indian languages but also when compared with that in north Indian ones. But in extent and range, Jaina literature in Kannada surpasses that in Tamil too. Thus the contribution of Jainism to Kannada literature is unique; and carly literaiure, to a certain extent, has often served as an authentic source of religious, social and political history of a community in India as also elsewhere. Here without a thorough study of Jaina literature in Kannada, the Jaina studies in general would not only remain incomplete but even rather poor.
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