Jaina Literature form earliest time to century 10th AD

SR No.: 250158
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Z_Shwetambar_Sthanakvasi_Jain_Sabha_Hirak_Jayanti_Granth_012052.pdf
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 11
Language: English
Classification: Article & Literature
File Size: 2 MB

Page 12

12 Aspects of Jainology : Volume VI not to Digambara. I have proved this on the basis of between c. 12th-14th A. D. multiple internal as well as external evidences in my In the first category Caupannamahapurusabook Jaina Dharma ka Yapaniya Sampradaya. In cariam of Silarkacarya (c. 9th A. D.) depicts the life Digambara tradition Ratnakarandasravakacara of of 54 out of 63 Salakapurusas, leaving out 9 PratiSamantabhadra (c. 6th A. D.) is regarded as the first vasudevas, in Prakrta. Containing 10,800 verses, it work composed on the ethical code of conduct for deals with 19 characters out of 54, exhaustively, Jaina house-holders, however, its authorship is also a while the remaining characters have been described matter of dispute. In Svetambara tradition after only in few pages. It belongs to Svetambara tradition. 'Uvasagadasao', the seventh anga of Jaina canons, In Digambara tradition, Jinasena and his pupil GunaSavayapannatti' by Haribhadra is the first available bhadra (c. 9th A. D.) also composed Mahapurana or work, dealing with the code of conduct for Jaina lay- Trisasticaritra in Samskrta. It is divided in two parts - devotees. Some independent works dealing with the Adipurana and Uttarapurana, describing the life of 63 atonement (Prayascitta ) were also written in this written in this great personalities of Jainism. On the same theme period among which Jinabhadra's 'Titakalpa' stands as Puspadanta also composed one of the greatest work the most important work. Later on, on the basis of of Apabhramsa language, namely TrisastimahapurusaJitakalpa, Indranandi's Chedapindasastra and Cheda- gunalarikaru ( laterc. 10th A. D.). Puspadanta carries sastra by unknown writer were composed in Yapaniya to perfection the possibility of Apabhramsa as a tradition. Especiality of these two works lies in the vehicle of poetry fact that they not only prescribe the laws of the atone Second type includes many Kathas, akhyanas ment for Jaina monks and nuns but for the male and and Caritas in Samskrta, Praksta and Apabhramsa. It female lay-devotees also. deals mainly with the biographies of individual 4. Jaina Narrative Literature Tirtharikaras and other celebrated personalities of Jaina narrative literature of this period is gene- their times. The first and foremost work of the correrally divided into five categories, viz. (i) biographies sponding period is certainly Paumacariya, of Vimalaof the 63 illustrious personalities (Salakapurusas ) suri ( c. 2nd-5th A.D.) of Naila or Nagila Kula, described together in one book, ( ii ) life-stories of which deals with the life-stories of Laksmana and these religious great personalities described indepen- Ravana. It is a pioneer work of Jainas on Ramakatha. dently in a work, ( iii ) religious tales in romantic It has considerable impact on one work of Ravisena's form, (iv) semi-historical prabandhas and (v) com- Padmacarita ( c. 7th A. D. ) in Samskrta and Svayapilation of stories in the form of kathakonas. mbhu's Paumacariu ( c. 8th A. D.) in However, main objective of the narratives Apabhramsa. There is also another version of Jaina was religious exhortation meant for the masses. It Ramakatha represented by Gunabhadra ( 898 A. D.) may be noted that most of the literature of this form, in Uttarapurana and followed by some other excluding canonical texts belong to this period, i.e.,c. Digambara writers of (c. 10th A. D. ). Some other 3rd-10th A. D. Though some prominent works of the works of this category are Parsvabhyudaya by Jinanarrative literature such as Trisastisalakapurusa of sena (c. 9th A. D. ), Harivamsapurana by other Hemacandra, semi-historical prabandhas -- Jinasena (c. 9th A. D. ). Vardhamanacarita by Asaga, Prabhavakacarita, Prabandha-cintamani, akhyanaka- Neminirvanamahakavya by Vagbhatta, Candramanikosa, Prabandhakusa, etc., have been composed prabhacarita by Virasena and some Kannada works