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CHAPTER - 4
SANSKRIT LITERATURE
4.1. Jaina literature is by no means pacifist. For a proper perspective of the age-old heritage of Indian culture, a study of Indian art, architecture, language, literature and religion is highly essential. Jaina works, both literary and epigraphical records, afford a well-documented details of the Rāstrakūta dynasty, their vassals, forts, battles, improtant cities and persons, rivers, dominions, authors, religious customs, patriarchs and preceptors, nuns, shrines and monasteries, rituals etc in the Dakṣiṇāpatha. In brief, the literature of this age, in whichever language it may be, not only mirrors the religious liberalism, but also reflects the military strength, immense wealth, religious catholicity, cultural opulance, literary affluence, and love of art and architecture. Jaina works have become an essential component of Indian culture. .
4.1.1. Motivating spirit of Jaina literature of this period had been both spiritual and social, though much of it is essentially religious in disposition. Jains, from time immemorial, have nurtured tastes and tendencies conducive to the development of art, architecture and literature. Jaina monasteries were the house of scholars and monks of letters. Jaina tradition has attached great importance to the copying, reciation and worship of sacred texts. There are Vidyādēvis, goddesses exclusively of learning, besides Sarasvati,
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