ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 310

B.1.4.1
Some Aspects of Jaina Narrative Literature
Prof. Prem Suman Jain
1.0 Introduction Jainas have developed a rich literary activity at all the times. The majority of Jaina writers belong to the spiritual class; they are either monks who take advantage of the four months of monsoon (caturmāsa) during which they are not allowed to wander and must take up on their literary activity, or those who have settled down at a place. The character and the content of Jaina- literature show the predominance of the clerical element among the authors, and this, incidentally, agrees fully with the Indian literature in general. These works are mainly theological and philosophical treatises, legends of saints, didactic works and laudations of the Tirthamkaras. The basic religious feature also emerges strongly in works having mundane contents, in books of science and poetry and works of narrative literature.
2.0 Tradition of Jaina Literature According to the Jaina tradition, the teachings of the religion were recorded in the period of the first Tirthamkara Rșabha himself; the Holy Scriptures always existed in the times in which the churches of the individual Tirthamkara prospered. It is true that they were forgotten in the intervals (in between the periods of a few Tirthamkaras), during which the doctrine disappeared, but they were proclaimed again anew by every prophet. According to a tradition of the orthodox people which is propagated today, the holy scriptures from the period of all the Tīrthamkara should essentially agree with one another (as also the life stories of the Tirthamkaras in their important points), and only the names are supposed to vary in them.
Like the teachings of his predecessors, Mahāvīra's teachings also have been recorded in certain works. His disciples, the Ganadharas, brought them down to the posterity in 12 Angas of which the last consists of the so-called 14 "Pūrvas" ("earlier" works). According to one tradition, apostles are said to have brought the contents of the lectures of the Master at first in the 14 Pūrvas in a text-form and then worked them out into the Angas. The canon consisting of these and other works was faithfully preserved by the leaders of the community among the first followers of Mahāvīra. However, the parts of the canon fell into confusion with the time.
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
Page 297 of 317