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 524

506 STUDIES IN JAIN LITERATURE (souls) connected by a nidana through nine 'bhavas' (births). Uddyotana has outdone his Guru by increasing the number of Jivas, whose histories are marked by vicissitudes in the course of various births, to five. As these histories are not connected at the beginning of the story but interlace only at a later stage and as these are not told in a systematic manner or chronological order, the plot as a whole becomes highly involved and so very difficult to follow. But for this serious defect the literary merit of Kuvalayamala is very high. It ranks high among the masterpieces of the vast Katha literature of the Jains. It presents us with valuable specimens of a number of Prakrit, Apabhramsa and Paisaci dialects. It gives a vivid and graphic picture of Indian life in the eighth century. It is important also from the point of view of the basic ethical values and its wealth of cultural data. This genre, the dharmakatha, reaches its culmination in Upamitibhavaprapanca Katha, an allegorical Sanskrit romance which presents the manifoldness of existence in a parable. It was composed by Siddharsi in 906 A. D. The poet introduces many stories and sermons in the narrative. He informs us that he chose the allegory in order to attract the readers and that he wrote in Sanskrit with a view to winning over the educated to the Jain doctrine. His language is smooth and clear. His writing reveals Prakritisms and popular expressions. This work enjoyed great popularity among the Jains. An unknown poet has worked up in his Malayasundarikatha popular fairy tale themes into a Jain legend. The work is of the nature of a romantic epic. (viii) Campus Distinct from these religious romances and romantic epics are the Campus in prose and verse imitating the style of Bana's Kadambari. Foremost among these is the Yasastilakacampu by the Digambara poet Somadeva Suri written in about 959 A. D. Poems of the same category are Tilakamanjari by the Svetambara poet Dhanapala who wrote about 970 A. D., and Gadya-cintamani by the Digambara poet Odeyadeva Vadibhasimha (beginning of the 11th century A. D.). The work deals with the famous legend of Jivandhara. This very legend forms the subjectmatter of Jivandharacampu by the Digambara poet Haricandra. (ix) Ornate Poems Like the legends of the Tirthankaras, other legends and fairy tale themes, also have been worked up into ornate epics. The Yasodharacarita by Vadiraja is an epic in four cantos. It is based on Uttarapurana of Gunabhadra. Another Yasodharacarita by Manikya Suri is based on Haribhadra's Samaraiccakaha.