Tulsi Prajna 1994 10

SR No.: 524581
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 152
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 7 MB

Page 140

Vol. XX, No. 3
89
"My braids of hair which was black like black-bees and was beautified with fragrant flow.rs, has become gray, dry and stinking. The words of the Truthspeaker (Buddha) cannot be otherwise.
Tarafa-qa 377 50er' is the burden of that song.
2. My eyes which were bright and beautiful like sapphires are now pale. The words of the Truth-speaker etc. (the burden of the song).
There are 522 Gātbās in the Theri Gathā divided into 16 sec. tions. They cannot be summarised here. The above specimens are enough to show that the Therfs drank poison (like experiences) in their life, but got peace of mind in the teaching of Buddha and, in their turn, they gave rectar-like solace to those who sought shelter in them. DHARMA KATHAS IN PRAKRIT
Jains classified their story-literature on the basis of Puruşarthas viz. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Mokşa. As the Dasaveyaliya Sutta (Gathā 188) puts it :
अस्थकहा, कामकहा, धम्मकहा चेव मीसिया कहा । Here "Misiya” means 'of a mixed nature' such as Kama Kathā with Dharma Katha etc.
Haribhadra, io Samardicca Kahā (p. 2) endorses the above classification as follows:
एत्थ चत्तारि कहाओ हवन्ति । तं जहा-अत्थकहा, कामकहा, धम्मकहा, #fafuoti pt 1
The term "Sankiņņā” denotes the mixture of the above categorics.
It was probably due to the keen desire of Jain Acāryas to keep their fold interested in observing their religious practices or Vratas like Non-violence, Truth etc of Jñana-Pancami. They were good psychologists and masters of the art of story-telling. Hence in stead of dry Dharma Kathas, they freely mixed the element of romanticism which appeals to common people, taking care that their ultimate object is to attract the masses to Jainism, Thus in Dharma Kathās we find beautiful description of Vasantotsava (Spring Festival) where golden lads and ladies mixed freely made love, and enjoyed life-a life that was impossible to enjoy in those days of early marriages and restrictions of the family and society. It was an escape from the dry dreary life to read or hear of Madanotsava wherein human beings and divine beings freely mixed together and even ordinary men and women fell in love at the first sight, got love-fever for subsiding which sandal paste and other cooling remedies were used and secret