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The interest in Jain Literature evinced both by rulers as well as their ministers and generals is amply indicated by works such as the "Prasanottara Ritanmalika' by Amoghavarsa of Rastrakuta, Nanartha-Ratan Mala by Irugapa Dandanayaka of Vijayanagara and the Chaundaraya Purana by Chaundaraya, Minister and General of Mara Singha and Racamalla Ganga but here we shall deal with the work contributed by Jain monkar only:
KUNDKUNDACHARYA is by far the earliest, the best known and most important of all Jain writers2, His influence is indicated by the fact that after Lord Mahavira and Gotama Gandhara, he is Kunkunda whose name is taken with great honour and respecte3. An inscription at Sravana belogola says, "The Lord of ascetics, Kundkunda was born through the great fortune of the world. In order to show that he was not touched in the least, both within and without by dust (Passion) the ' Lord of ascetics left the earth the abode of dust and moved four inches above4. His most important works are (1)Samayasar (2)Pravachanasar (3)Niyamasar
1, For 28 famous Jain Monks and their work see, JAIN ACHARYA; Rs. 1/10 by Digamber Jain Pustakalya,Burat, 2. Narsimhuachary: Karoataka Kavicaritre: Vol I Introd, P. XXI.
3.
मङ्गलं भगवान् वीरो, मङ्गलं गौतमो गणी । मङ्गल कुन्दकुन्दायो, जैन धर्मोऽस्तु मङ्गलम् ||
4. Epigraphie Carnatica Vol II 8,B, 254—351,
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