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JAIN LITERATURE
Among the religions of the world Jainism is a very minor religion, because it does not cover even one percent of the total world-population; but its literacy contribution is not much less than other world's major religions. As per available information total volume of known Jain works is more than twenty thousand and number of total Jain manuscripts is more than one million. The word 'Jain literature' does not mean only the Jain religious and philosophical literature. It also includes the secular literature written by Jain seers and scholars. Thus it covers a very vast area. It includes various branches of knowledge, such as metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, logic, cosmology, biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, geology, geography, history, astronomy, and astrology, various arts, architecture, grammar, linguistics, medical sciences and so on. In Jain canonical literature these different subjects are inter-mingled, though there are some specific Jain works which deals only their own subjects.
Prof. Sagarmal Jain 35, Oswal Seri, Shajapur (M.P.) Phone: 91-7364-22218, 227425, 227405,
Fax: 91-7364-226038
bhattcomp@rediffmail.com Prof. Sagarmal Jain is M.A., Ph.D.
in philosophy, and Secretary of Parshwanath Vidyapeeth, Varanasi, India. He has held several academic positions, and over 25 Ph.D. degrees
have been awarded
under his supervision. He has authored more than 25 books and 150 research articles; edited 160 books;
and participated in numerous seminars in India and abroad. He is the General Editor of the Encyclopedia of
Jaina Studies
Though the primary Jain literature was composed in Präkrit Language, but later on Jain scholars composed their works in Sanskrit, Apbhramsa, Kannada, Maru-gurjer, Hindi, Gujrati, Marathi and English also. Its composition had been begun from 5th century B.C. and remain continue till today.
We can divide total Jain literature into these five categories :
1. Canonical literature along with its commentaries. 2. Works on Jain metaphysics, karma philosophy, cosmology, epistemology
and Logic. 3. Works on Jain ethics, Jain code of conduct yoga and religious rituals. 4. Works on religious preachings along with Jain narrative literature. 5. Jain literature on secular subjects.
So far as Jain canonical literature is concerned it is composed in Präkrit between 5th century B.C. and 5th century A.D., on the basis of the preaching of the Tirthankaras. This canonical literature includes many books; we find a detail list of these works in Nandisutra (5th Century A.D.). In which 12 Angas, Covasyakas, 31 Klikasktras and 29 Utklikasktras, in all 78 works had beert mentioned. According to Svetambara tradition among these 78 works, one Angagama i.e. Dristivada, 15 Klikasktras and 11 Klikastetras are not presently available, but the remaining 51 works are available. According to Digambara tradition except a very little part of Dristivda, all the canonical literature has been lost. It is believed that on the basis of some remaining part of the Dristivda, Digambar Acryas have composed some works, such as Ksayapahuda, Satkhandgama, Tiloyapannati, Samayasra, Niyamasra, Pravacanasra, Mulcr, Bhagvati-Ardhan etc.
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