Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 176

158 STUDIES IN JAIN LITERATURE (B) Katha and its varieties as given in Sanskrit works on poetics We are not interested here in main literary forms- akhyayika (Biography, e.g. Bana's Harsacarita), Katha (Novel, e.g. Bana's Kadambari) and Campu (a literary composition in mixed prose and verse, e.g., Trivikramabhatta's Nalacampu but in katha used in its general sense (a story). Some leave out of consideration the magnificent Brhatkatha which ranked beside the Mahabharata and the Ramayana as one of the great storehouses of Indian literary art. Bhoja in his Srngaraprakasa (Ch. XI) and Hemacandra, following him and Abhinavagupta, in his Kavyanusasana (Ch. VIII) speak of the following types of katha : 1. Upakhyana, 2. Akhyanaka (or Akhyana), 3. Nidarsana, 4. Pravahlika, 5. Manthulli (or Manthullika), 6. Manikulya, 7. Parikatha, 8. Khandakatha, 9. Upakatha, and 10. Sakalakatha (Bhoja does not mention it) Of these ten types, Upakhyana and Akhyana really belong to tradition (History-Itihasa). Since Bhoja and Hemacandra have mentioned them as types of Sravya Kavya (Katha), all these ten may briefly be treated here : 1. Upakhyana (an eposide) : That which occurs in the midst of a long literary composition and gives an account for enlightening someone else is called upakhyana--for example, the Nalopakhyana in the Mahabharata. 2. Akhyana : The upakhyana gets the name akhyana when a reciter (granthika) relates or narrates or expounds it by reciting, acting and singing. Govindakhyana is an example. 3. Nidarsana (which literally means 'illustration, example' or 'lesson') is didactic fiction either direct or couched in parable. It teaches throught the actions or behaviour of animals or of men what is proper or improper to be done. (It is predominantly in prose.) Its examples are the famous Panca-tantra, Dhurta-vita-samvada, Kuttanimata and the like. 4. Pravahlika is that composition which is presented in an assembly as a dialogue between two persons in a mixture of Sanskrit and Prakrit discussing the merits etc. of the hero (pradhana). Its example is Cetaka- which is not extant. 5. Manthulli (or Manthallika) is a ksudrakatha (short story) in Maharastri Prakrit as exemplified by two such stories (now lost), called Gorocana and Anangavati. The titles are possibly the names of their heroine. Or, it may be a humorous story making fun of priests, ministers and hermits who undertake something but do not succeed in carrying it out.