Brief Survey of Jaina Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature Part 3

SR No.: 007632
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Sanmati Tirth Prakashan Pune
Publication Year: 2009
Total Pages: 25
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Literature
File Size: 22 MB

Page 6

Observations on 12th century - Jaina-Literature
* 12th century is the peak-point of Prakrit and Sanskrit Jain Literature. It is literally flooded with gigantic literary personalities.
* Skt. works are maximum in this century. Jaina Mahārāstrī works are comparatively less. still ample in number. There is only a single work in Jaina Saurasenī. Apabhramsa works are much lesser than JM. works. Apabhramśa works are majoritily biographical and didactic.
* Malayagiri, the famous Šve. commentator, had done a complete survey of canonical commentaries and wrote the commentaries on all the remaining canons. He wrote commentaries on Upāngas, Mūlasūtras, Chedasūtras and Prakīrņakas. Through his huge literary works he encompasses philosophy, Karma-theory, ethics, cosmology and grammar.
* Maladhārī Hemacandra wrote various Vịttis, Vivaranas and Tīppaņas.
* Hemacandra, the all-rounder genius is honoured by the epithet, ‘Kalikālasarvajña'. He seems to be very comfortable with JM., Skt. and Apabhramsa. Dr. A.M.Ghatage noted about his Apabhramśa in the introduction of Prakrit-English dictionary that, 'The most valuable material of this language is found in a large number of stanzas quoted by Hemacandra in the fourth Pāda of his Prakrit Grammar. They show not only traces of their non-Jaina origins but also contain purely secular matter and show traces of different dialects.' When a reader goes through the list of his works, he gets stunned due to the variety of subjects and literary forms.
* Rāmacandrasūri, one of the brilliant disciples of Hemacandra, chose the special field of dramatics. After studying Bharata's Nāțyaśāstra thoroughly, he composed Nāțyadarpaņa and noted his special views on drama. He himself wrote Nātakas, Nātikās, Prakaranas and Vyāyogas. His dramas are totally secular in nature. His name is enumerated in the history of Sanskrit dramatics immediately after Dhananjaya, the author of Dasarūpaka.
* Without any sectarian bias, Jaina poets wrote commentaries on classical Skt. works like Meghadūta and Naişadhīyacarita. Vikrama's Nemidūta is Samasyāpūrti of Meghadūta, but the main character is taken from the Jaina legendary history.
* Ample biographical literature is found in this century both in JM., Skt. and Apabhramśa. Jaina Mahārāstrī Caritas are comparatively more in number and they are mostly dedicated to Tīrthankaras. Sanskrit biographies are dedicated to various personalities like Jinadatta, Dhanyakumāra, Atimuktaka, Krtapunya, Mrgāvati etc.
* Municandra's poetical compositions, viz., Kulakas and Prakaranas are peculiar in this century.