________________
IV
Jain narrative literature cras of this period is generally divided into five sub categories, viz. (i) biographies of the 63 illustrious personalities (Salkpurusas) described together in one book, (ii) life-stories of these religious great personalities described independently in a work, (iii) religious tales in romantic form, (iv) semi-historical Prabandhas and (v) compilation of stories in the form of Kathkosas.
Some prominent works of the narrative literature such as caupannamahpurisa cariyam of Silnka, Trisastisalkpurusa caritra of Hemchandra, some semihistorical Prabandhas Prabhvakacarita, Prabandha-cintamani, Akhyanakamanikosa, Prabandhakosa, etc. had been composed between c. 12th-14th A.D.
V
In the beginning of c. 3rd A.D. several independent works were composed of various secular subjects such as -Astronomy, Astrology, Geography, Mathematics, Biology, Arts and Architecture, Linguistic and Medical science, i.e., Ayurveda, etc. It would be in the fitness of the things to record some of the details about such works, viz. Lokavibhaga of Sarvanandi (c. 6th A.D.Jand Tiloyapannatti of Yati vrsabha composed in Prakrta, are two important works on Astronomy and Geography respectively. Some more works like Umasvati's Jambudvipasamasa and Ksetravicra (c. 3rd A.D.) and Brhatksetrasamasa of Jinabhadragani Ksamasramana (c. 7th A.D.) also dealt with Geography and some aspects of Jaina cosmology. Among these works, Ksetravicra is not available today. Jivasamasa and Jivavicara as well as Tandulavaicarika are the works, dealing with Jaina Biology, Pujyapada-Devanandi (c. 6th
A.D.) had composed a treatise named Vaidyakasastra dealing with Ayurvedic
medicines, but this work is also not available. Jyotisakarandaka is a prakirnaka which also deals with Jaina Astrology. In the field of Grammar, Jainendra Vykarana or Endravykarana of Indranandi (c.6th A.D.), Sakayayana Vyakarana of Sakatyana (c.9th A.D.) and Svayambhuvyakarana of Tribhuvana Svayambhu (c. 8th A.D.) are regarded as important works on grammar. Thakkarpheru's works Ratnapariksa and Dhtu pariksa as well as Vstusra are also belongs to this category. It shows that Jain scholars have also written various works on secular subjects. <>
Photograph by Thomas Dix
14th Biennial JAINA Convention 2007
Jain Education International
132
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Astronomy, Astrology, Geography, Mathematics, Biology, Arts and Architecture, Linguistic
and
Medical science, i.e., Ayurveda, etc.
It would be in the
fitness of the things to record some of the
details about such works, víz. Lokavibhaga of Sarvanandi
(c. 6th A.D.) and Tiloyapannatti of Yatí-vrsabha composed in Prakrta, are two
important works on
Astronomy and Geography respectively.
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