Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
View full book text
________________
1.5
1.0 Introduction
The survival of Jainas, though as a minority community, for the last so many centuries in India- and especially in south India can be safely attributed, among other things, to the glorious and continuous tradition of Jainas saints for more than a thousand years. They never attempted to lead a solitary life in isolation from others. On the contrary, the Jainas always tried to preserve contacts with the general masses so as to encourage them to lead a religious life.
Jaina c ryas from South India & Their Contributions Prof. Bhag Chand Jain
The contribution of South India to development of Jainism is remarkable one in all the spheres like religion, philosophy, literature, art and architecture. Here we confine ourselves to introduce mainly the pontiffs like Bhadrab hu, Gu adhara, Dharasena, Puspadanta, Bhutavali, Kundakunda, Yativṛṣabha, Sivārya, Samantabhadra and Akalanka etc. who composed a vast Prākṛta and Sanskrit Jaina literature.
2.0 Jaina c ryas and their tradition
ruta (Scripture or Canon) is the soul of the religious traditions. It is an anthology of the sermons of Trtha karas, may be called God in non- Jain traditions, or their direct or indirect disciples who have attained the certain spiritual purification. It is therefore established as an authority and priority as the form of religion. The scriptural texts are engraved in the hearts of believers who draw inspiration and revival from them in every age.
crya is the spiritual guide and the head of the monastic order. He should also be a proficient in his own philosophical principles as well as other's philosophies.
Jaina thinkers enriched practically all the faculties of literature. Mah vra is the Arthakart of the present rutajn na of Jaina tradition and Gautama Ga adhara is its Granthakart. Gautama expressed his views without adding anything from his own side. The ruta is of two types A gab hya and A gapravista. A gapravista is of twelve types, viz.:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
y ra ga
Suyagad ga
Th
ga
Samav y ga
Viy hapa atti
Ny y yaddhmmakah o
Uvasagadas o
Antagadadas o
Anuttarovav iya
Panhavagaanaim
Viv gasuyam
Drṣtiv da, the twelfth A ga.
According to the Digambaras the Canonical literature has been lost.
1. c rya Bhadrab hu
Bhadrab hu, was the disciple and successor of the fourth rutakevali Govardhana. He went to South India with a large Jaina Sangha during the famous famine of twelve years which was due to happen in Magadha. He was the knower of the 14 P rvas. Candragupta Maurya the famous Mauryan emperor was his main disciple who went Page 136 of 555 STUDY NOTES version II with him to south and accepted Sallekhana at the hill of Sravanabelagola. The Brhatkath ko a of Harisena (p.317-19) supports this fact.
Page 154 of 556
STUDY NOTES version 4.0
