Jain Sahitya in Kannada Literature

SR No.: 250144
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B S Sanniah
Publisher: Z_Pushkarmuni_Abhinandan_Granth_012012.pdf
Total Pages: 2
Language: English
Classification: Article & Literature
File Size: 363 KB

Page 1

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श्री पुष्करमुनि अभिनन्दन पन्थ : षष्ठम खण्ड
Jain Sahitya in Kannada Literature
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B. S. Sannaiah, Institute of Kannada Studies Manas Gangotri, Mysore-6
Some scholars are of the opinion that Kannada literature was in existence even before the Christian era. Excepting the inscriptions, the first literary work available in Kannada is the Kavirajamärga wbich is written by Amoghavarsa Nspatunga in about 850 A. D. It appears from the references and the passages quoted in this work that there lived some Kannada poets earlier than its author. But unfortunately none of them is available. According to some scholars, the author of this Kavirajamärga is Amoghavarsa but according to some others, its author is the court poet, Srivijaya. Though it is said that Srivijaya wrote the Raghuvarśapurāna, yet it is not available. Similarly, the works such as Harivaṁsa, Sadraka, by Gunavarma, Vatsarājacarite, by Nägavarma, Sulocanācarite by Nāgānanda, Bhuavanaikarāmäbhyudaya by Ponda etc., are lost beyond recovery. All these works belong to Jaina literature in Kannada. Thus the Kannada literature made its start with Jaina works.
Besides the Kavirājamārga, we have two great literary Kävyas from the pen of the great poet Pampa e. 8., Adipurāna and Vikramärjunavijaya, Pampa won the epithets such as Ādikavi, Mabākavi of the Kannada poets. His works are counted as the first and foremost Kavyas and that Mahākavyas too. He lived in 941 A. D.
Pampa was followed by Ponna (950 A. D.) who composed two Kavyas : one a religious poem called Santipurāna and the other a secular poem by the name Bhuvanaikarāmābhyudaya. Ranna (993 A, D.) who followed Ponna wrote two poems : one a religious and the other a secular one viz., Ajitar ātrapurāna and Gadāyuddha or Sahasabhimavijaya. Thereafter Janna who lived in 1209 A. D. gave to the Kannada literary world his two poems such as Anantanāthapurāņa and Yasodharacarite both of which are religious in character and contents. All these three poets won the epithet as Kavicakravarti. Nāgachandra who lived in 1100 A. D. has been ascribed to the authorship of Ramacandracaritapurana or Pamparāmāyana, and Mallināthapurana The former work is styled on the model of Pampa's second work and due to this he is called himself as "Abhinavapampa" All these poets continued their writings in the same trend and each of them wrote a secular and a religious one, in the Campū style i. e., mixed with prose and poetry (more poetry and less prose).
Apart from these literary works, the Jaina writers are said to have adventured to write books on scientific themes. Nāgavarma (990 A. D.) wrote his book on prosody with the title
Chandombudhi." The Madanatilaka which deals with errotics has been ascribed to Candrāraja. Sridharācārya (1050 A. D.) wrote his Jātatilaka on astrology. Nägavarma il's (1040 A. D.) Kävyävalokana on poetics, Bhāşabbüşaņa, a grammar, Vastukośa, a dictionary, Chandovrtti on prosody, Jagaddala Somapätba's (1100 A D.) Kalyānakäraka, a treatise on medicine Khagendramanidar pana by Mangaraja on Vishavaidya are some of the excellent gifts contributed by the Jaina writers to the Kannada literature in particular and to the Indian literature in general. The Sabdamanidarpana of Keśirāja who lived in 1260 A. D. has won the popularity from both the
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