Jain Literature in Kannada

SR No.: 250138
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Z_Pushkarmuni_Abhinandan_Granth_012012.pdf
Total Pages: 6
Language: English
Classification: Article & Literature
File Size: 771 KB

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श्री पुष्करमुनि अभिनन्दन ग्रन्थ : षष्ठम खण्ड
rial works can be said to represent a hidden landmark in the history of early Kannada literature and I am tempted to call the period covered by these works, together with a few other ones, 20 the Period of the great Jaina Commentories, which could in all probability be the 6th and 7th centuries A. D.
Next to Kavirajamarga is available the Vaḍḍärädhane (C. 925 A. D.) the earliest available prose work in Kannada which is based on the Müläradhana (Bhagavati Aradhana) of Sivarya. It is an Aradhana Kathäkośa standing in rank with similar Kathakośas of Harişena, Śricandra, Nemidatta and Prabhācandra. This can be said to be the only Aradhana Kathakosa in modern Indian languages, Aryan or Dravidian, and hence, is of great oriental value. It shows considerable influence of the diction of the Prakrit narrative works and is unparallelled in Kannada literature in respect of its excellence of language and literary style.21 Along with this classic can be mentioned another prose work, the Cavundarayapurana (C. 978 A. D.), composed by the great Camundaraya. The prose of this work shows some Prakrit influence; but the language is more Sanskrit-ridden.
Now entering the realm of poetry, we first meet Pampa (941 A. D.), the greatest of the Kannada poets. He is known as the Adikavi of Karnataka. His Adipurāna and Vikramarjunavijaya, composed in the Campû style, are the masterpieces in Kannada literature. Ponna (C. 950 A. D.), known as Kavicakravarti, composed his Santipurana in the same Campü style. Ranna (C. 993 A. D.). also entitled as Kavicakravarti by the Calukya King Tailapa, gave us the far esteemed Ajitapurana and Gadayudha. All these three poets are known as the Ratnatraya of Kannada literature.
Among other eminent Jaina poets who flourished after this great trio, the following are worthy of special mention along with their respective works: Säntinathapuraṇa (1068 A. D)Sukumaracarita; Nagacandra or Abhinavapampa (C. 1100 A. D.)-Ramcandracaritapurāṇa and Mallinathapuraṇa Brahmasiva (C.1100 A. D.)-Samayaparikşe and Trailokyacuḍāmaṇi Stotra; Nayasena (C. 1112 A.D.)-Dharmamrta; Nemicandra (C. 1170 A. D.)-Neminathapurāṇa known as Aristanemi and also a secular romance called Lilavati; Aggala (C. 1189 A.D.)-Candraprabhapurana; Bandhuvarma (C. 1200 A.D.)-Harivamsa Purana; Gunavarma II (C. 1225 A.D.)-- Puspadantapurana; Janna (C. 1230 A. D.)-Yasodharacarita and Anantanathapuräna, Anḍayya (C. 1300 A.D.)-Kabbigara Käva, an interesting secular work written in pure Kannada without the mixture of Sanskrit words; Nagaraja (C. 1331 A.D.)-Punyasrava, Mudhura (C. 1385 A.D.)-- Dharmanathapuraṇa; Bhaskara (C. 1424 A. D.)-Jivandharacarite; Bommarasa (C. 1485 A. D.)Sanatkumaracarite; and Ratnakaravarni (C. 1557 A. D.)-Bharatesa Vaibhava.
The Jainas, being the earliest cultivators of the Kannada language, have predominantly conrtibuted to its grammar, lexicography, prosody and poetics: Nagavarma's (II) KarnatakaBhāṣābhüṣaṇa (C. 1145) in Sanskrit Sutras, Keśiraja's Sabdamanidarpana (C, 1260 A. D.) in Kannada and Bhaṭṭakalanka's Sabdānuśāsana (1604 A. D.) in Sanskrit with his own exhaustive commentary are well-known grammatical works among which that of Keśiraja is accepted as the most authoritative one. Ranna's Rannakanda and Nagavarma's (II) Vastukosa are the earliest lexicons. Nagavarma's (1) Chandombundhi (C. 990 A. D.) is the earliest extinct work on Kannada prosody. Nrpatunga's Kavirajamärga (C. 815 A. D.), Nagavarma's Kävyävalokana (C. 1145 A. D.) and Salva's Rasaratnakara (C. 1500 A. D.) are notable works on Kannada poetics.
Besides inscriptions and commentaries, poetry and prose (with biography, religion, philosophy, metaphysics, logic etc.) grammar and lexicography, prosody and poetics, the Jaina scholars also applied themselves to several other fields like Mathematics, astrology, medicine, veterinary science, toxicology, cookery etc. and have produced many interesting books on these subjects. The last notable Jaina contribution to Kannada literature may be said to be in the fied of history-rather quasi-history (Jaina traditional history and chronology) i. e., the Räjäva