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________________ A BRIEF SURVEY OF JAIN LITERATURE.... 505 personages-prominent patriarchs, saints, authors, royal patrons and merchant princes who helped the cause of Jains and Jainism in different contexts and centuries. Although they should not be rejected outright as unreliable historical sources they could be 'used only with great caution and circumspection. The Prabhavakacarita, "Life of the Prominent" composed by Prabhacandra or Candraprabha and revised by Pradyumna Suri in 1277 A. D., the Prabandhacintamani "Wishing-jewel of Stories" by Merutunga (1306 A. D.) and the Prabandhakosa "Treasury of Stories" by Rajasekhara (1349 A. D.) are the typical examples of quasi-historical-biographical works. Another semi-historical work is the Tirtha-Kalpa by Jinaprabha Suri (between) 1326 and 1331 A. D.). It gives a description of the Jain places of pilgrimage together with the names of their founders, the kings by whom they were restored, and also the dates. It contains a lot of legendary matter but possesses some slight historical significance as it is based on earlier sources and in part deals with events belonging to the author's own period. (vii) Dharmakathas The 'dharma-kathas' (religious romances/novels and romantic epics) of the Jain authors and poets introduce a new genre in Indian literature. These romances are never intended for giving mere pleasure or delight. They give pleasure and at the same time provide religious instruction and enlightenment. The earliest dharmakatha was Tarangavati by Padalipta Suri (2nd or 3rd century A. D.). The original has not come down to us but a later recasting of it, Tarangalola, has been preserved. This Tarangavati most probably served as a model, for Haribhadra's Samaraiccakaha (8th century A. D.), a magnificent religious romance. Haribhadra's literary glory primarily rests on this work. The poet traces the fate of a hero and his opponent through nine births. The dominant idea underlying the main narrative and most of the tales inserted in it is nidana, a special phase of karma (Bartering away one's austerities for sensual pleasures in a future birth, which are denied to him in the present one, or for revenging oneself for insults or personal injuries in the subsequent births). In the numerous stories and fairy tales and parables inserted, we come across some which we find in Indian narrative literature, and a few which belong to universal literature. Uddyotanasuri, a disciple of Haribhadrasuri of Samaraiccakaha fame wrote his Kuvalayamala, a dharmakatha' or rather a 'Sankirnakatha,' in A. D. 779. The Samaraiccakaha is centred round the motif of karma and transmigration used as a literary device : the story follows the fates of two 'Jivas' Stud.-64 Jain Education International www.jainelibrary.org For Private & Personal Use Only
| SR No. | 001868 |
| Book Title | Studies in Jain Literature |
| 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 |