ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

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

Page 319

5.5.1 From the point of view of subject matter the Jaina stories have been classified under the following heads: [a] Dharmakathā
These stories give prominence to ritualistic practices, charity,
worship, virtue of self-restraint etc. [b] Arthakathā
Stories of the traders [c] Kāmakatha
Romantic love stories [d] Miśrakatha
Mixture of the above mentioned Dharma, Artha and Kāmakathās.
Divine, Human and Mixed of both.
[e] There are three types of
stories
[f] Super Human stories
Most of the Jaina stories belong to this category.
5.5.2 The relationship of these stories with world literature.
1. The stories like Madhubindu-drstanta (The parable of the honey-drop), 2. The story of Agadadatta 3. The story of Sodasa, the story of Prasannacandra and Valkalacirin, the story of five rice
grains etc. 4. The story of Sukumālasvāmi 5. The story of Yaśodhara
6.0 Prakrit Language and Literature The Jaina literature is written in many languages and dialects. Indo-Aryan languages have, as it is well-known, three stages of development. They are:
1. The old Indian or Sanskrit. 2. The middle Indian or Prakrit and Apabhramsa 3. The new Indian or Bhāṣā
Jainas have made use of the languages of all the three stages; however, the oldest Jaina works are not written in Sanskrit, as one would expect in the old Indian Sanskrit, but in Prakrit.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0