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Prakrit Literature/171
poems like Kuvalayamālā of Udyõtanasūri. Preponderance of Prakrit over Kannada is found in its metres of ragale, kanda, and sāngatya which bear the stamp of Prakrit metres like paddaạia (pajjhaờika), khandaa (Sk. skandaka) and sanghatta. The very conception ofādiprāsa and antyaprāsa, beginning-rhyme and end-rhyme, owes its source to Prakrit, that too kadavaka style attracted Kannada genius. Every house holder of Jaina community respectfully recites cattārimangalam and pañca-ņamākara, Jaina litany, not knowing it is in Prakrit language.
6.2.9. Jaina men of letters in Karņāțaka were under the grip and command Sanskrit and Prakrit mostly in the time of Rāstrakūtas. They wrote in Sanskrit and Prakrit and also adopted the works of their choice. We have no access to the buried wealth of great Jaina works not extant. But, the available bulk of literary works exhibit the intensity of Prakrit domination.
Following pages survey the contribution of Jaina authors to Prakrit literature under the aegis of Rāstrakūtas.
6.3. Svayambhū (C. 750 C. E.) was another author of note who was held in high deference. He has composed altogether three works namely Paumacariu, Rittaņemicariu and Svayambhu-chandas. He has given an account of himself. He was lean, unshapely with sparse teeth and flat nose. All that exteranl appearence had nothing to do with his poetic gift
6.3.1. Svayambhū seems to have composed his works in the border area of Mahārāştra and Karņāțaka in the reign of Dantidurga (735-56) who had the royal epithets of Sāhasatunga and Khadgā valūka. Svayambhū was a follower of Yāpaniya samgha. Poet Puşpadanta, while introducing Svayambhū, composer of Paddhaời metre, categorically states that he belonged to Apuli samgha a variant of Yāpaniya sect : Svayambhuhu paddhaờibandhakartā Āpuli Samghiyaha.
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