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Chapter V
THE ŚVETĀMBARA LITERATURE
( 1000-1600 A.D. )
The svetāmbara Jain writers, of our period, have left their mark on almost every aspect of literature, and some of their works, have great importance, not only for the students of the general literature, but also of history. It is significant to note that some of the Svetām bara writers were influential Jain saints, whose philosophical attitude towards life, has certainly enriched their writings. We should note that unlike most of the other Indian writings, the Jain works are dated and therefore it is much easier to assess their historical importance in correct perspective.
The earliest important Svetāmbara writer, of our period, was Jineśvara, the disciple of Vardhamāna, the first head of the Kharatara gaccha', who was given that title by the Gujarat king Durlabha in 1024 A.D. He was not only a brilliant Jain philosopher, but also, at the same time, a successful writer. Unfortunately, one of his important works namely the Lilavati-katha in Prakrit, is no longer available in the original, although we have a good Sanskrit imitation by Jinaratna, which was made in V.S. 134), at the town of Jāvālipattana (Jalore). The original work of Jineśvara (strictly speaking, Jineśvara I of the Kharatara gaccha) is mentioned, for the first time by Maheśvara in his Kathäsurasundari, composed in V.S. 1095.3 We learn from the KB*, that this work was composed at Aśāpalli by Jinesvara. From other later references, it is clear, that this work of Jineśvara, became celebrated after its composition.
From the literary point of view, Jineśvara's Kathakosha”, written in Prakrit, in V.S. 1108, corresponding to 1052 A.D., is one of the most celebrated Jain Prakrit works of the 11th
