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 455

MALLIKAMAKARANDA 437 play has six acts which accords perfectly with the rule of the sastra. It would thus seem that the play fulfils all the requirements of a prakarana. The Poet's Personality as revealed by his works Ramacandra is the reputed author of a hundred works including no less than eleven dramas. When one studies thoroughly and deeply all the writings of a poet one might be able to infer his personality more or less correctly. It may even then be hazardous to infer the man from his works if the author keeps throughout a purely objective attitude. But one will not go far wrong in the case of a self-conscious poet like Bhavabhuti, Rajasekhara or our author, Ramacandra. An attempt is made here to have a mere glimpse of Ramacandra's personality from his play MallikaMakaranda and the Prologues and the Epilogues of a few other plays of his that are so far published and of his Natyadarpana (in collaboration with Gunacandra). Ramcandra was a devout Jain'' and devoted pupil20 of the great Acarya Hemacandra. He was proficient in the three sciences21 : Grammar, Logic and Poetics (including Dramaturgy). He was indefatigably engaged in creative, literary activity22 writing poems or plays or 'stotra's or scientific works. It is perfectly understandable if one takes pride in his literary art and learning. Ramacandra, however, goes a step further and indulges in boasting23. He declares: "There are many great poets like Murari who diligently write plays that excel in striking modes of speech only, whereas he alone is expert in writing plays, imbued with sentiments which are the very soul (the essence) of drama."24 Generally, the works (of other poets), like sugar-cane, progressively diminish in rasa (1 sentiment 2 juice) but Ramacandra's whole work grows progressively sweeter and sweeter still.25 He proudly declares : 1. The good sayings (suktis or subhasitas) of Ramacandra, 2. the spring, 3. melodious songs, 4. Freedom and, 5. union with one's beloved person--these five (things) are veritable showers of joy26 It seems that in the days of Ramacandra there was an army of poetasters who thrived on the poetic works of their predecessors. They unabashedly committed literary theft and passed the poems of their predecessors with some changes here and there as their own. Naturally, people, in general, were fed up with them and did not trust them at all; on the contrary they held these poetasters in utter contempt. Probably this charge of plagiarism was levelled, by some of his contemporary critics, against Ramacandra. He stoutly defends