Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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wandering in the forest for the wandering in the four grades of Sa s ra: the wild elephant is the death; and the demoness, the old age. The Vata tree stands for liberation; the well, the human existence; the cobras, the four passions. The clump of reeds stands for the period of one's life, age; the two rats, the white and dark for nights. The honey-bees are the various diseases; the boa-constrictor is the hell; and drops of honey stand for monetary sensepleasures. The most superb model of allegorical exposition is the Upamiti-bhavaprapancakath, in Sanskrit, of Siddharsi [906 A.D.) The entire range of Jaina doctrines in this pattern of the allegory has been presented by Siddharsi. Prof. H. L. Jain concluded his remark that-'after reading this, one is reminded of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. This allegory in English also aims, like Siddharsi's composition, for the spiritual betterment of the worldly soul.
5.5 Types and Characteristics of Jaina Stories In fact the narrators have themselves described in their works the varied types of the stories. It leads us to note that there are many forms of the Jaina tales from the point of the view of subject, character, style, language and so on.
5.5.1 From the point of view of subject matter the Jaina stories have been classified under the following heads: [a] Dharmakath
These stories give prominence to ritualistic practices, charity, worship,
virtue of self-restraint etc. [b] Arthakath
Stories of the traders [c] K makath
Romantic love stories [d] Misrakath
Mixture of the above mentioned Dharma, Artha and K makath s. [e] There are three types of Divine, Human and Mixed of both.
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 Madhubidu drst nta (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 Sukum lasw mi 5. The story of Ya odhara
6.0 Pr krta 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 Pr krta and Apabhra 3. The new Indian or Bhāsā
a
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 Sankrit, but in Prākrta.
6.1 Special features of Prākta Language The heritage of Prākta is a valuable treasure of India.
1. Since it developed out of the language of the common people and since it continued to
be used by them, this language of the common people is called Prāksta.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0
