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 540

522 STUDIES IN JAIN LITERATURE (A) Katha and its varieties as given in Prakrit Works According to the Sthananga-Sutral, katha has three varieties : 1. arthakatha, 2. dharmakatha and 3. kamakatha, whereas vikatha has four : 1. stri-katha, 2. bhaktakatha, 3. desakatha and 4. rajakatha. Each of these four is further sub-divided into four varieties. Further on, sutra 569 declares that there are seven vikathas and adds to the above four varieties the following three vikathas : 5. mrdukarunika, 6. darsana-bhedini and 7. caritra-bhedini. Sthananga (sutra 282) divides katha (or better dharmakatha) into four sub-varieties : 1. aksepani (aksepini), 2. viksepani (vi-ksepini) 3. samvegani (or samvejani) and 4. nirvejani (or nirvedani)4. According to the Vasudevahindi the katha is twofold : 1. carita (narrative based on tradition, biography, life) and 2. kalpita (work of imagination, fiction, invention). Carita is twofold : narrative of life of a woman or of a man. Carita is : whatever is seen, heard or experienced with regard to the achievement in the field of the three ends of human life, (dharma (virtue, sacred law or duty), 2. artha (wealth) and 3. kama (pleasure). But whatever is opposite of this, i.e., whatever is invented by the poet or story-teller and added to what has been told by the wise is called kalpita. Men and women are known to be : 1. uttama (exalted, excellent). 2. madhyama (middlemost) and 3. nikrsta (low or vile or debased). Narratives based on their lives (caritas) too are of the same kinds. Haribhadrasuri in his Introduction (bhumika) to his own Samaradityakatha informs us that according to the view of the ancient acaryas the subjectmatter of a story may relate to (1) only divine characters or (2) divine and human characters together or (3) all human characters. A story in general could have four : (1) wealth (artha)-playing a predominant role, or (2) love (kama)-playing a predominant role, or (3) religion--virtue, duty--(dharma). playing a predominant role. A mixed (misra or samkirna) story is the fourth type? A wealth story is one which has wealth as its predominant subjectmatter and which deals with war-fare, sending of letters, agriculture, trading and mechanical arts, the use of alchemy, making of alloys, etc., the use of expedients like conciliation (sama), dissension (bheda), bribery (upapradana) and punishment (danda)'. A love story treats of beautiful forms, proficiency in arts, which has for its essence respectful reception and union accompanied with horripilation caused by love, and which describes the activities of (maiden messengers or) gobetweens, amours and propitiation etc.