Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 29

XVi people.
Jain narrative literature may conveniently be divided into ten broad types as follows: Narratives embodied in (i) canonical works, (ii) commentaries on canonical works, (iii) counterparts of Rāmäyana and Mahabhārata, (iv) caritas, purānas and mahāpuraņas, (v) counterpart of Brhatkathä, (vi) quasi-historical Prabandhas, (vii) Dharmakathās, (viii) Campūs, (ix) Ornate poems and (x) Kathākos'as.
(i) Canonical Works
Acārănga and Kalpasūtra describe in a graphic manner the ascetic life of Mahāvi ra, and Bhagavati presents the dogmatics of Jainism. It gives a vivid picture of the life and work of Mahāvi ra his relationship to his disciples and contemporaries and his personality. The parable of the Lotus in the Sutrakrtānga suggests the importance of royal patronage for the propagation of dharma. Nāyādhammakahão consists of two parts. Part I consists of 21 chapters, each containing an independent narrative. Most of these narratives or stories lay more emphasis on some parable incorporated in them rather than on the story itself. Some of them, e.g., the 7th chapter on Rohini, are just parables spun out and enlarged to form narratives. Side by side with stories and parables of this nature we also come across novelettes, tales of travellers' adventures, mariner's fairy-tales, robber tales and the like. Chapter 8 relates the legend of Malli, the only female tirthankara; she is a princess of Mithila and of wondrous beauty. An artist has painted a portrait of this princess, after he had seen only her big toe. Seeing this portrait one prince falls in love with her. This picture motif reminds one of the Buddhist stories of famous artists like Kusa, the
31. This survey is mainly based on A History of Indian Literature by
Winternitz Volume II, Calcutta 1933, Introduction to Brhatkathäkosa of ācārya Harisena by A.N.Upadhye and on Muni Punyavijayaji's essay: "Jain Agamadhara aura Prakrit Vānmaya" pub. in Muni Sri-hajārimal Smrtigrantha.