Brief Survey of Jaina Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature Part 2

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

Page 15

Observations on 10th century - Jaina-Literature
* In this century, Skt. works are ample. JM. and Apa. works are comparatively less. JŚ. works of this century are very few and mostly written by Devasena.
* The tradition of writing on astronomical subjects in JŚ. is continued in this century by the work called Jayapāhuda.
* BỊhannayacakra and Laghunayacakra are probably the only two works on logic written in Jaina Sauraseni.
* It is noticed that the focus of Digambara literature in JŚ. is always on philosophical, doctrinal and astronomical subjects. Classical literature like epics, mythologies, biographies, narratives, legendary histories etc. is not found in Jaina Sauraseni. Two reasons can be inferred in this matter (i) Digambaras were genuinely interested in philosophical and religious reflections and they never indulged in popular writings. (ii) Majority Digambara writers belonged to South India. Their mother tongues were not belonging to MIA group of languages. Though they had acquired the writing-skills in Jaina Saurasenī. It was difficult for them to produced classical literature in Jaina Saurasenī.
From fourth century onwards, we find Skt. works of Digambaras, both philosophical as well as classical. Due to the proficiency in Skt. they were more comfortable with Sanskrit. Digambaras never tried Jaina Mahārāștri as their literary language because Svetāmbaras were producing their literature in JM. right from fourth century onwards. The sectarian spirit did not allow them to write in Jaina Mahārāștri.
In the meantime, Apabhramsa was flourishing as a literary language. In the 8th century Svayambhū started writing Caritas and Purāņas in Apabhramśa. In the 10th century, under the patronage of Amoghavarşa, Digambara writers like Pușpadanta, Harișeņa, Padmakīrti, Devasena and Dhanapāla were engaged zealously in writing Purāņas, Caritas and also narratives in Apabhramśa, which become the Prathamānuyoga literature of Digambaras. Ancient Kannada works of this century are also found due to the royal patronage.
* Among the JM. writers of this century, Devendra, Dhanapāla, Nanditādhya and Pradyumna are important. JM. works of this century are not many in numbers but the variety of subjects is remarkable.
* Nanditādhya's Gahālakkhaņa is the first work on Metrics which is written in Jaina Mahārāstrī.
* Devendra's narrative of Kālaka became so famous that in the later centuries, whole Kālaka literature was produced in JM. and Sanskrit.
* The off-beat religious stories in Malaśuddhiprakaraņa are very remarkable in their themes and presentation. The stories are very distinct from the traditional Prakrit stories found in