Collected Research Papers in Prakrit and Jainology Vol 02

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: University of Pune

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Vasudevahindi jointly written by Samghadāsa and Dharmasena in 5th Cen. A.D. is also noted as a grand narrative presented in Ārsa Prāksta or old Jaina Mahārāstri. The part of the book viz. Madhyama Khanda shows the linguistic characteristics of Sauraseni. In the history of Indian Literature, Vasudevahindi aquired very esteemed position due to its curious connection with Vaddakahā of Guņādhya.
In the 6th or 7th Century, the great Śve. logician Siddhasena wrote Sanmatitarka in JM. in which he discussed the Nayas, in a comprehensive manner on the view of Anekāntavāda. Sanmati is one of the very few JM. works on logic. Haribhadra is the most celebrated, honoured and
versatile author in the 8th Century. Throughout his life he wandered in Rājasthāna and Gujratha and never visited Mahārāstra. It seems that with a sound background of Skt. he acquired the skills
in JM. and produced (i) a huge prose narrative like Samaraiccakahā, (ii) a unique satirical work like Dhuttakkhāna which inspired Skt. Dharmapariksa and Apabhramsa Dhammaparikkhā in the later period, (iii) first JM. book dedicated to Yoga in Jaina manner (viz. Yogasayaya), (v) other treatises related to Karma theory, Monastic conduct, Layman's conduct, Didactic and Karananuyoga. Haribhadra included a lot of folk stories, examples, fables and traditional religious stories in his commentaries on Avassaya and Dasaveyāliya. Though the explanations of Sūtras are given in Skt., he had purposely used JM. for this stories.
Conclusively we can say that the JM. used by Haribhadra represents it's classical form. His language comes nearest to pure Mahārāstrī. His vocabulary consists of a lot of old Gujrathi desi words, influence of Skt. in the use of cvi-forms, compounds ending in- bhūya (bhūta) and ample literary words. This classical form reaches its height in Kuvalayamālā of Uddyotanasūri. This
monumental Campūkāvya, full of rich cultural data is written in the last lap of the 8th Century.
When we cast a glance to the 9th Century - literature, it is seen that the variety of subjects is remarkable. JM. works in this century are concerned to Philosophy, Anthology, Didactic, Karman, Hymns and Legendary histories. Šīlānka started the tradition of writing Caritas in JM. along with his commentaries on Ācārānga and Sūtrakstānga. Bappabhatti wrote his anthology Tārāyana, who was in close contact with Vākpatirāja (Bappairāya) the poet of famous Mahārāstri work Gaudavaho.
Virabhadra, belonging to 10th Century, wrote his Prakirnakas viz. Ārāhanāpadāyā, Aurapaccakkhāna, Causarana and Bhattaparinnà in Ārsa Prakrit form. The language and presentation of the subjects were so revered among the Svetāmbaras that the Prakīrņakas were treated as a part of canonical literature. Devasena's works on logic, Devendrasūri's Kalakācārya Kathānaka, Dhanapāla's celebrated lexicon of Prakrit words and Nanditādhya's work on metrics (viz. Gāhālakkhana) are the remarkable treatises of this century. Pradyumna's off-beat stories are also noteworthy which are included in Mülasuddhipagarana. Carita tradition is continued in this century.
In the 11" Century, we find nine Caritas written in JM. which are published up till now. Three of them are written by Devendra alias Nemicandra, famous author of Sukhabodhā, a comm. on Uttarādhyayna. Dhaneśvara's Surasundaricariya gives sole importance to a woman character
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