Jain Journal 1983 10

SR No.: 520072
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 35
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

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in Kannada (1949, 6th edition 1978). Still nothing is known definitely about the name, date and place of the author. Again it is Dr. A. N. Upadhye, who first brought to lime light almost all important aspects of Kannada VA, even before it was published in a book form (1949), in his learned introduction to Brhat Kathākoṣa (1943). He aptly took up the correct approach to Kannada VA, in finding out the sources for Sanskrit and Prakrit verses quoted in VA. He is of the opinion that VA is later to CP (978), but not later than 11th century. In the course of these 40 years, many books and articles had been published, but it has not been possible to dislodge his suggestion.
JAIN JOURNAL
It is in this VA, that we find the same gāthā No. 225 of Vasunandi's Srāvakācāra quoted in the very first story (p.7) of Sukumarasvami, quoted by CP. This also goes to prove the fact that the date of Vasunandi is not later than 11th century.
It may not be out of context to mention the acknowledged fact by RM, that PKK was composed on the basis of Aradhana Karṇat Tikä of Brajisnu; which means that RM, Vasunandi, Nemicandra all belong to Karnataka. This again reminds that the contribution of Kannada (Jain) Literature to the Jain Literature as a whole is remarkable. On the basis of data and evidences available here we can solve some of the problems and remove the knots.
It should be said to the credit of Dr. A. N. Upadhye that some of the salient points of Kannada Literature, with special reference to Sanskrit and Prakrit works, both published and unpublished, has been explored and brought to the notice of research scholars, particularly working in the field of Jainology.
Any way, with the help of Kannada works I have tried to fix the date of Vasunandi as 970, and the date of RM as the middle of 12th century I leave it to the wise descrition of the scholars to verify the validity of this suggestion.