Medieval Jainism

SR No.: 006727
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: P S Jain, R M Lodha
Publisher: Ashish Publishing House
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 198
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 8 MB

Page 76

58
MEDIEVAL JAINISM: CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
verses in Prakrit, and its well-known story "Three Wooers of a Girl” finds entry into a Prakrit work, the Avasyaka Curni. This work became so popular that it was rendered into various languages. Simhapramoda (16th Century A.D.), a Jain, is mentioned as an author of Vetalapancavimsatika. A manuscript of the Bhetalapancavimsati has been preserved in the Karkal Jain Matha of Karnataka State. Later it was rendered into Brajbhakha and into Hindi known as Baitalapaccisi. The work was also translated into German, Mongolian and other languages of the world. The Sukasaptati is another popular work of which the original has been lost. It is available in Sanskrit version of late origin. The work has been rendered into various Indian and foreign languages, some of its popular stories have found entry in Prakrit Jain works such as the Avasyaka Curni, the Dasavaikalika Curni, and the Uvaesapada of Haribhadrasuri. Ratnasundarasuri, a Jain, is mentioned as an author of Sukasaptatika or Sukadvasaptatika.” Some of the stories of the Sukasaptatika were so popular that they found a place in world literature. The Book of Sindbad by Masudi (died in 956 A.D.) is considered close to this work.
The Simhasanadvatrimsika or Vikramacarita as it is called, deals with the life-story of king Vikrama. It has various recessions including the South Indian recession, the Bengali recession, the Jain recession and so on. This work was translated in about 1574 A.D. into Persian under an order of Akbar. It was also rendered into French, Siamese, Mongolian, and other world languages. Ksemankaragani, a Jain, has considerably enlarged this work, and this is supposed to be the best preserved edition of this popular composition. King Vikrama is represented here as a follower of Jain faith who does not refuse a request of any beggar and is