Brief Survey of Jaina Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature Part 1

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Sanmati Tirth Prakashan Pune

Page 17

Late Prakiranakas
AMg. Isibhāsiyāim
JM.
Ārāhana
- Sulasa-sāvaya Arāhana-padāyā - Ancient Acarya Arāhana-padāyā - Vīrabhadra Arāhana-payaraņa - Abhayadeva Ārāhana-Sāra (Pajjantārāhana) Āurapaccakkhāņa I, II Candāvejjhaya Divasāgarapannatti Joisa-karandaga Sārāvali Titthogāli Viratthaya
* The Prakīrņaka Isibhāsiyāim is not enumerated among the ten traditional Prakīrņakas. Since it's language shows the peculiarities of old AMg., it represents the first phase of AMg. literature.
* The late Prakīrņakas are mostly written by Sthaviras. Their dates are not confirmed. Commentary of Pādalipta is found on Joisakarandaga. Therefore it is definitely a work before 5th century. Abhayadeva's small composition is included in this list. Abhayadeva pertains to the 11th century. Naturally these Prakīrņakas do not show uniformity of language. We have designated the language of late Prakīrņakas as JM.
Ancient Digambara Sauraseni Works : 2" century A.D. up to 4" century A.D.
Observations with Chart
A Note on Digambara Literature in general: * According to Digambara view, the Ardhamāgadhi canonical literature does not represent the true words of Lord Mahāvīra for various reasons. Due to failing of memory, many important portions are dropped out. New works are written and added in the Ardhamāgadhi canons. Svetāmbara - Digambara controversy was evident from around first century A.D. Eminent Digambara Ācāryas composed new works in Sauraseni which was in vogue at that time in the upper part of India. Sauraseni is prevalence at that time is known from the dramas of Asvaghosa and Bharata's Nāțyaśāstra. According to the legendary accounts about the creation of Șatkhaņdāgama, Kaşāyapāhuda etc., we may say that these JŚ. works existed in written form from the beginning.