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 553

INDIAN NARRATIVE LITERATURE : A STUDY 535 material from the larger stock of narratives available to him. He thus enriched the story tradition of the Uttaradhyayana still more, though it was already formed in essentials long before him."42 Abhayadevasuri (2nd half of the 11th century A. D.) wrote his commentaries on nine augas (sacred texts) like Sthananga. He is therefore wellknown as 'Navanga-Vrttikara'. Maladhari Hemacandrasuri (beginning of the 12th century A. D.) wrote his commentaries on Anuyogadvarasutra, and on Haribhadrasuri's Vrtti on the Avasyaka and on the Visesavasyakamahabhasya. He was known for his great knowledge of the Jain agama texts. Acarya Malayagiri (2nd half of 12th century and first half of 13th century A. D.) wrote Vrttis---Commentaries-on several canonical works like Nandisutra, Rajaprasniya, Prajnapana, Avasyaka, Vyavaharasutra, etc. Muni Punyavijayaji observes in his essay "Jain agamadhara Aura Prakrit Vanmaya" : "Among the commentators he stands at the top."43 The niryuktis, bhasyas, mahabhasyas, curnis and tikas are a treasure house of folk tales or popular stories, parables, fables, fairy tales, romantic and adventurous tales, mariners' fairy tales and legends. The remaining types (iii) Counterparts of Ramayana, Mahabharata (and Harivamsa) to (x) Kathakosas have already been dealt with under "A Brief Survey of Jain Literature" preceding this article. So they have been skipped over here with a view to avoding repetition. The Jain narratives are very precious as they go beyond the kings and the priests and give a picture of the real life of the Indian society in all its different classes. Salient characteristics of Jain Narrative Literature : In the various types of works, excepting some of the semi-historical works (prabandhas) certain traits arrest our attention as they are hardly noticed in other branches of Indian literature : (1) "Pages after pages are devoted to the past and future births; (ii) the inexorable law of karma plays a very conspicuous role; (iii) Sermons with dogmatic details are introduced; (iv) Parables and illustrative tales are added here and there. The spirit of asceticism is writ large throughout the text; and almost as a rule every hero retires from the world to attain better status in the next life". A. N. Upadhye (The following comments come from my friend and colleague, Prof. G. S. Bedagkar, a non-Sanskritist, one who had not been exposed to any of the