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

Page 89

Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
they tied to one language (such as sanskrit). They, depending on the needs of time and place, have been composed in various Indian Languages, ancient, medieval and modern, such as Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsa and some of the regional languages, thus all these Puranas amounting to a considerably large number spreading over a vast period ranging from C.400 A.D. to 1700 A.D. With their peculiar cosmographical aid mythological settings, the Jaina Purāsas are mostly encyclopaedic in nature and mainly aim at illustrating the life-history of great religious personages for the benefit of the liberable souls at large.
The origin and the progressive growth, for a pretty long time, of these Puranas, of course, marks a note-worthy rich tradition of numerous Jaina teachers and scholars sincerely dedicated to composing them. But so far we have no solid means of having a panoramic view of all these Puranas, so that our studies and researches in thsi field would lead to wider perspectives and fresh findings. Hence, I feel the need of a Descriptive Master Catalogue of the Jaina Purānas, composed in Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsa, Hindi, Kannada and also possibly, in old Gujarati, Rajasthani, Tamil and Telugu. To substantiate such need, let me now put forth a succienct critical account of the Jaina Purānas composed in Kannada.
The Jaina Purānas have been composed in Kannada from 941 A.D. 10 C.1700 A.D. There is one Mahapurāna, composed in 978 A.D., by the great Cāmundārāya and entitled Trişastilaksana-mahāpurana, which is popularly known as the Cāvundarāya Purāna. And there are more than thirty extant (Laghu) Puranas or Caritas (about twenty on the Tirthankaras, and twelve on the other Salakāpurusas) composed between 941 A.D. to C.1700 A.D. All are by the Digambara authors. It is interesting to note that the poet Nagacandra (C.1100 A.D.) has entitled his work (of the second category) as Rāmacandra-carita-purāna.