ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

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

Page 321

SCHOOL
TIONAL
OF
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY,
स्वाध्याय परम तप
AN STUDIES
1. The Adipurānā
2. The Yasastilaka Campū
3. JivanddharaCampu
4. Upamitibhavaprapañcakathā
Acarya Jinasena
Acārya Somadeva
Haricandra
Siddharşi
2. Apabhramsa Literature
1. Special value for the North Indian languages
It is of special value for the study of New Indo-Aryan, especially many of our North Indian languages of today. The regional languages such as Sindhi, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Bihari, Udiya, Bengali, Asami and the like have grown from the soil of Apabhramsa language and literature.
2. Popularized by Jaina authors
Apabhramsa, which enjoyed the credit of being the national language of Northern India for a very long time, has been nourished by Jaina authors. From the 6th Cent. A. D. to 15th Cent. A D, the cultivators Apabhramsa language were Jainas.
3. Prominent writers of Apabhrama
Svayambhu (8 Cent. A.D.) and Puspadanta (10 Cent. A.D.) are the prominent writers of Apabhramsa literature. It is of great importance to note that they selected Rāma and Krsna for composing the Prabandha-Kavya in Apabhramsa literature. Joindu, Muni Rāmasimgha, Devasena etc. are the prominent ethicospiritual writers who have been recognized as the precursors of Kabir, Tulsi and other mastic poet-saints of India.
6.4 Literature of South Indian Languages
1. Ratnatraya of the Kannada literature are: Mahākavi Pampa, Ponna and Ranna.
2. Many Purānas and Kavyas are written by Jaina authors in Kannada.
3. In Tamil many of the major Kavyas and minor Kavyas have been written by Jaina authors. Works like the Silappadikaram, Jivaka Cintamani etc. are of great eminence.
4. The great Kural is looked upon as the Veda in Tamil country. There are some grounds for the claim that the author was Jaina by persuasion.
Page 308 of 317
STUDY NOTES version 5.0