Book Title: Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature
Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

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________________ VIII this book - "Chāṇakya : Explored in the Jaina Literature”. It is our solemn duty to provide the rationale for a reader to go through this book. The distinctive features of this book can be enumerated as Cāṇakya alias Kautilya is an interesting personality for * any educated and cultured Indian. * Kautilya and his Arthaśāstra is studied worldwide by the Orientalists, Sanskritists, Historians and experts in the science of Polity. * Hindu Purāṇas and ancient Pāli texts have preserved very little personal data of Cāṇakya's life while the Jaina literature is really flooded with stories, narratives, legends and myths about Cāṇakya. The biography of Caṇakya from his birth to death is documented in the Jaina texts. Some of the scholars have opined that, "The Buddhas and Jainas generally despise Caṇakya'. This opinion is totally wrong in the case of Jainas because the sense of awe and regard about Cāṇakya is seen in the Jaina literature from the 3rd century A.D. upto 15th century A.D. * Kauţiliya Arthaśāstra is a part of Magadhan literature and the authentic history of the Jaina canons is closely connected with Magadha. * * * The Jaina connections of the famous Sanskrit political drama Mudrārākṣasa are explored and exploited in one of the

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