Universal Values of Prakrit Texts

SR No.: 006701
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Prem Suman Jain
Publisher: Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapeeth and Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 368
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 99

CR, an outstanding personality in KTa's history, has written some works and TLP is a significant Ka. prose work (978) as it is the first MP in Ka. There are about 11 gāhās quoted in the CRP. GR is the main cause for the erection of Gommatēśvara's monolith of 58ft at Sb, & for Nemicandra's Gommaṭasāra. Nagacandra's (1080) Ramachandra-Carita-puraṇam narrates Jaina version of rāmāyaṇa & owes its gratitude to Vimala-sūri's (a. 3C) pauma-cariya, written in Jain-Māhārāṣṭrī.
Nēmicandra (a. 1180), a caturbhāṣā Cakravarti wrote two campūkāvyas; Līlāvati prabandham. Scholars have noted the inf. of Pk. Līlāvati Kavya of kouhala (a. 800) & Sk. Vasavadatta of Subandhu (a. 6C) on Nemicandr's Līlāvati Kāvya. I would like to focus the attention of scholars to another imp. reference not mentioned so far. One Jinēśvara - Sūri (1034) has written a OK. Kavya Līlāvati Kathā, which may be the direct source to Nēmicandra.
In his another Kavya, poet Nēmicandra, in a state of ecstacy, out of sheer love & respect for Pk. lit., has given a rare description. Let me quote the very words of the poet: (the Situation under regerence is that Väsudēva majestically enters the marriage hall) "Prākṛita Kāvyadante Sahaja Sowbhagya Bhangi bhavalankaradin alankṛitanāgi svayamvara mantapamam" i.e. "Vasudeva entered the marriage hall attired with natural grace and charm like a Prākṛrakāvya"
Here Nemicandra has given a glowing tribute to the glory of Pk. lit. by making a casual but very effective statement at the appropriate time and place. This is just a spontaneous outburst of a poets unprejudiced attitude and appreciation towards another la. & lit. that has so much infd him and his writing I do not think that there can be a better compliment or testimonial to Pk. lit than this unique statement. It is interesting to note further more that Nemicandra has also composed four gāhās and used them in his two Kavyas.
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