Brief Account of Jain Tamil Literature

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

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Glory of Jain Culture
to cause innumerable inescapable woes".
or chapters. The first beginning with the birth and education of the hero, "Jeevaka", and the last ending with his Nirvãņa.
(2) A woman walking on the path of
chastity deserves adoration and worship not only by human beings, but also by devas.
The names of Ilambakas are :
(3) The working of Karma is such that there
is an inevitable fatality from which no one can escape, and the fruits of one's previous Karma must necessarily be experienced in later period.
This is an epic in other words "Ārsa Mahã Kõvya", just as Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata in Sanskrit. It consists of three great divisions and 30 chapters on the whole. The great work has a very valuable commentary by Adiyarkkunallar,
(1) Nãmagal Ilambagam; (2) Govindaiyãr llambagam;
Gāndharvadattaiyãr llambagam; (4) Guņamālaiyãr Ilambagam;
Padumaiyār Nambagam; Kemãsariyâr Ilambagam; Kanakamālaiyãr lambagam;
Vimalaiyãr Ilambagam; 9) Suramanjari llambagam, (10) Manmagal Ilambagam; (11) Pumagal Ilambagam; (12) lakkaņaiyãr Nambagam; and (13) Mukti Ilambagam.
This classic contains 3145 stanzas. An excellent edition containing a fine commentary by Naccinarkkiniyãr is now available.
2. Jeevaka Cintã mani : Scholars
consider this work as the best of the Mahã Kavyas. This great romantic epic, which is at once the Iliad and the Odyssey of the Tamil language is said to have been composed in the early youth of the poet named "Tiruttakkadeva". As the result of the challenge from his friendly poet of Madurai Sangam, the Cintamani was composed by Tiruttakkadeva to prove that a Jaina Monk can also produce a work containing “Šringāra-rasa. It was admitted on all sides that he had succeeded wonderfully well.
Five Laghu Kävyas were composed by Jaina authors :
1. Yasodhara Kávyam : Jainism advocates
the observance of any vow by Trikarana - i.e. mind, speech and body. If any one of these is lacking, then it will not fulfil the observance of vrata. For Jains, Ahimsã is the fundamental vrata. This
The work is divided into llambakas
A Brief Account of Jaina Tamil Literature