History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

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

Page 80

CHAPTER III
REDACTION OF THE JAINA CAÑON
In ancient days in India it was customary to transmit learning from generation to generation orally, and that this state of affairs continues down to the present times at least in the case of the olden type of pāṭhaśālās1 which teach Jainism, Samskṛta or the like. This will show that it is not the want of knowledge of the art of writing to which this state of affairs can be ascribed. For, according to the Jaina tradition Lord Rṣabha who flourished in the 3rd ara (spoke) of the present avasarpiņi period, taught this art of writing-18 lipis2 to his daughter Brahmi with his right hand.3 The Vaidika Hindus, on the other hand, ascribe it to Brahman, the Creator of the Universe. Leaving aside these prehistoric items of a very remote age and turning to a period only 4000 years preceding the present century we can give ample proofs of the fact that India knew the art of writing in the remote past. Various scripts such as Brahmi, Mohenjo Dero etc., bear full testimony to this. It however seems true that the art of printing was unknown in ancient days in India.
1. For a brief description see my paper on The Jaina System of Education (J.S.E.) (pp. 218-219) published in Journal of the University of Bombay (vol. VIII, pt. 4).
2. For exposition of these 18 lipis see my paper on Outlines of Palaeography (pp.
93-94) published in Journal of University of Bombay (vol. VI, pt. 6)
3. Cf. the following line occurring in the Bhāsa on Avassaya :
"लेहं लिवीविहाणं जिणेण बंभीड़ दाहिणकरेणं"
Abhayadeva Suri's com. (p. 36b) on Samavāya (XVIII) and his com. (p. 5a) on Viyahapanṇatti, Triṣasti (1, 2, 968), Amaracandra Suri's Padmānanda mahākāvya (X, 79) and Subodhika (p. 149b) may be consulted in this connection.
4. Rev. H. Heras has written an article on "The Eastern Island script and the script of Mohenjo Dero". See Annals of BOR I (vol. XIX, pt. II, pp. 122-126).