History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

Author(s): Hiralal R Kapadia, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 248

COMPARISON AND EVALUATION
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These remarks and one made by him on p. 11 goad me to say that the narrative literature embodied especially in the Cunnis and Tīkās of the Agamas deserves to be specially studied by one who wants to have a complete picture of world-sociology in general and Indian sociology in particular. I may add that Angas VI and VII furnish us with materials whereby we can prepare articles like Occupations and Professions as seen in the Rāmāyaṇa.1 They supply us with specimens of short stories.
Music The seven svaras of the musical scale or gamut are mentioned in Thana (VII). These along with their sthānas, the birds and beasts that utter these notes, the musical instruments2 which give rise to these notes, the advantages occurring from singing particular svaras, 3 grāmas, 21 mūrcchanas, and the art of singing are dealt with in Anuogaddāra (s. 127). Further Abhayadeva Suri in his com. (p. 659b) on Viāhapaṇṇatti (XV; s. 539) notes gītamārga, the pertinent line being "Arif furfनृत्यमार्गलक्षणौ सम्भाव्येते. "
Staging of dramas-In Rāyapaseniya (s. 24) we come across the staging of a drama in 32 ways. Out of them, some of the poses produce an appearance of some of the letters a feature hardly to be found. elsewhere in the staging of any drama. In Nemicandra Suri's com. (p. 196b) on Uttarajjhayana (XIII), there is mention of a natyavidhi named Mahuyarīgiya.
Erotic-It may sound strange that the Jaina canon which ought to discuss and define religion pure and simple, contains an exposition of erotic elements. But this can be explained on the ground that a novice is as much in need of being told what he ought to refrain from as he is in need of being told what he ought to indulge in. So erotic discussions do deserve to be treated. Even names of standard works of this science deserve mention in the canonical treatises, and this is exactly what we find in Anuogaddāra (s. 41) and Nandi (s. 42). Even the Dasaveyaliyanijjutti (v. 259-262) furnishes us with some materials in this 1. This is an article by Mr. P. C. Dharma, M. A., L. T., and it is published in the Annals of B. O. R. I. (vol. XIX, pt, II, pp. 127-146).
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Names of some of the musical instruments are given in Viahapannatti (V, 4, 1), Rayapaseniya (s. 23), Malayagiri Suri's com. (p. 2b) on Nandi etc.
Cf. the inscription pertaining to music and got prepared by King Mahendravarman. Vide Epigraphica Indica (vol. XII) as suggested in Jaina Satyaprakāśa (vol. VII, Nos. 1-3, p. 232).