Mahavira Jayanti Smarika 1975

SR No.: 014031
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhanvarlal Polyaka
Publisher: Rajasthan Jain Sabha Jaipur
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 446
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 11 MB

Page 402

Jains are: the Temple of Delvada at Mount Abu (Rajasthan), the temple at Ranakpur (Rajasthan), the 56 ft. high idol of Bahubali at Sravanbelgola (Mysore), the beautiful temples at Pavapuri (Bihar), Parsanath Hills or Samet. sikhar (Bihar) and Satrunjaya (Gujrat), etc.
Besides the sculptural contribution, the Jains have also played their own part in development of Indian paintings, handicrafts, caligraphy etc. and also equally great share in bringing up Indian theatres through music, dances, dramas, folk-songs and folk-dances, etc. The Jain literature, both canonical and noncanonical is replete with the theoretical discussion about all these branches of arts.
B. Literature :
As we have already seen there is a vast amount of original Jain literature written in the last 2500 years in many languages, particularly in Prakrit, Ardhamagadhi, Saurseni, Apabhramsha, Sanskrit. Hindi, Gujrati, Rajasthani, Kannada and Tamil.
The oldest canonical texts believed to have been composed in Mahavira's time are in Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi) language. The prominent amongst them are the eleven Angas (Acharanga, etc), the twelve Upangas, the four Mulas, the four Chedas and the Avasyaka. These are the thirtytwo canonical texts considered as an authority by all Shvetambers. The Murtipujakas, in addition consi. der 13 more texts as authority. According to some, there were 84 such texts. In the Digambera, the canonical texts are mainly the books, written by Acharya Bhutbali and Pushpadanta (in 1st century A.D.) and known as Shatkandagama. In addition to these texts the books written by Acharya Kundkunda (in Ist century B.C.) such as the Pahudas, the Samayasara, the Niyamsara, the Panchastikayasara, etc. are also reverred as equivalent to canonical books. The language of the Digainber texts is mainly Saurseni.
The non-canonical literature of Shvetambers mainly comprise of the commentaries on the canonical texts. These commentaries are written by several Acharyas from 2nd century A.D. to the modern age. The oldest commentaries are Niryuktis written by Bhadrabahu Swami (the second) and are in Prakrit language. Then follows the Bhasya and Churnis (in 6th century to 8th century A.D.) again mostly in Prakrit. Later on, the commentaries in Sanskrit called Vrittis or Tikas were written in the 11th century A.D. first by Shilankacharya and then elaborately by Abhayadeva Suri, Haribhadra Suri, Malyagiri, etc. are also Sanskrit commentators. The latest Sanskrit commentaries (such as Avachuris etc.) and commentaries in regional languages (such as Tabba, etc.) extend to very late periods and are of less reliability because of the context of the terms being almost lost.