Brief Account of Jain Tamil Literature

Author(s): Krishnachand Choradia
Publisher: Z_Sumanmuni_Padmamaharshi_Granth_012027.pdf

Page 2

Glory of Jain Culture
and Kāma. These three topics are interpreted and expounded as to be in thorough conformity with the basic doctrine of Ahimsa. This great ethical work, which contains the essence of Tamil Wisdom, consists of three parts and of 133 chapters. Each chapter contains 10 verses. Thus, we have 1330 verses in the form of couplets. There are commentaries which are written by Ilampooranãr, Kālingar and many others. Of these, one is by the great commentator Naccinarkkiniyār, whose creation is unfortunately lost to the world. We can see the influence of this magnanimous work on such great literary pieces as :- Neelakesi, Jeevaka Cintamani, Cûdamani, Arungalacheppu and many others.
and 260 quatrains. The third chapter on inbam i.e. Kāma, contains 10 quatrains. Thus 400 quatrains are arranged into 3 sections. This arrangement is attributed by one tradition to the Pandya King Ugraperuvaludi and by another tradition to the Jaina Scholar named Padumanãr. There are 18 didectic works in Tamil language among which Kural and Nãladiyâr are considered to be the most ancient and the important work.
(4) Aranericcăram : "The essence of the
way of virtue", is composed by a Jaina author by name Thirumanaippadiyãr. He is said to have flourished in the last Sangam period. He describes in this great work, five moral principles, associated with Jainism. These principles go by the name of "Pañca Vratăs", the five rules of conduct governing the house holder as well as ascetic. These are Ahimsā, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacarya and Parimita - Parigraha.
(3) Náladiyâr : Nãladiyõr derives its name
from the nature of the metre i.e. a Quatrain or 4 lines in Venbã metre. The work consists of 400 quatrains and is also called the "Velălar - Vedam", the Bible of the cultivators. It is not the work of a single author. Tradition supposes that each verse is composed by different Jaina monks and put together to form a single work.
(5) Palamoli : The author of Palamoli
(means proverbs) is a Jain by name Munruraiaraiyanır. It consists of variable old sayings containing not merely principles of conduct, but also a good deal of worldly wisdom.
The 400 isolated stanzas are arranged according to a certain plan after the model of the Kural. Each chapter consists of 10 stanzas. The first part on aram i.e. Dharma consists of 13 chapters and 130 quatrains. The second section on porul i.e. Artha, contains 26 chapters
(6) Tinaimalai - Nutraimbadu : The
author's name is Kanimoliyār, who is also said to be one of the Sangam poets. This work treats of the principles of love and war and quoted freely by the great
A Brief Account of Jaina Tamil Literature