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OF THE HINDUS.
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series of works called Puranas, as the Adi and Uttara Purunas, Chámunda Raya Purána, and Chaturvinsati Purána'; but these are not to be confounded with the Purúnas of the Hindus; as, although they occasionally insert legends borrowed from the latter, their especial object is the legendary history of the
Tirthankaras, or deified teachers, peculiar to the sect. The chief Puranas are attributed to JINA SENA ACHÁRYA, whom some accounts make contemporary with VIKRAMÁDITYA; but the greater number, and most consistent of the traditions of the South, describe him as the spiritual preceptor of AMOGHAVARSHA, king of Kanchi, at the end of the ninth century of the Christian era. Analogous to the Jain Puráňas are works denominated Charitras, their subject being, in general, the marvellous history of some Tirthankara,
Arithmetic, ................. 2
Miscellaneous,..,............ 4 1 HAMILTON says, the Digambaras have twenty-four Puranas, twenty-three giving an account of each Tirthankara, and the twenty-fourth, of the whole; but this seems to be erroneous. The actions of the twenty-four Tirthankaras are described in a single Purána, but the section devoted to each is called after him severally as the Purára of each , as Rishabha Deva Purana, one section of the Chámunda Raya Purána. In the Adi and Uttara Puránas, forming in fact but one work, the Ádi, or first part, is appropriated to the first Tirthankara, whilst the Uttara, or last portion, contains the accounts of all the other deified Sages. There are several collections, comprehending what may be termed twenty-four Puranas; but it does not appear that there are twentyfour distinct works so denominated.
