Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

Author(s): Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar

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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
direct contact with the kings and politicians which made them imbibe a practical knowledge of the science of state-craft. With the passage of time the Jaina monks were allowed to observe local customs (lokovayāra) which resulted in their extensive movement in order to be acquainted with the cultural traditions of the different regions. Jainism being widely popular amongst the mercantile communities of India, the Jaina lawgivers became quite conversant with the professional intricacies of trade and other occupations. Besides, in an atmosphere of conflict and rivalry when the various opposing sects. were struggling hard to acquire supremacy, a fair knowledge of the religious tenets of the rival sects became practically essential in order to be able to defend one's own faith from the active onslaughts of the rivals and prove its supremacy amongst the people at large. A combined effect of these various factors may be seen in the works of Jinadā sa Gani which provide a wealth of information on the various aspects of the cultural life.
The language of the NC. gives the opportunity for an independent field of investigation. We find many words which are now extinct from the popular usage or have changed their meaning. This may help the philologists in tracing the development of the Indian languages. The Carn's, as already referred to, belong to a period of transition when Prakrit was being replaced by the Sanskrit language among the Jaina literati. Hence, even while writing commentaries in the Prakrit language, many of the words have been virtually taken from Sanskrit. Various popular Sanskrit verses have also been quoted in the text.1 Technically, the Prakrit language of the later Jaina Svetambara texts is termed as Jaina Mahārāṣṭri, as it mainly follows the rules of Maharaṣṭrī and yet it has certain peculiarities of its own, i. e. it is influenced by Ardhamagadhi. The language of the NC. also belongs to the same The language of the narratives in the NC. is almost
group.
1. NC. 1, pp. 53, 54, 104, 127; NC. 3, p. 562.
2. Woolner, Introduction to Prūkyta Gramma, p. 6; also Sheth, H. T., Priya Sadda Mahanava, p. 43.
3. According to the author of the Paiya Sadda Mahanava (p. 43), even