Jain Journal 1968 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 90

TRISASTISALAKAPURUSACARITA
10 parvas
Trışaştısalākāpuruşacarita is a great work in containing about 34000 slokas
The sixtythree salākāpuruşas are the great personages, who, according to the belief of the Jainas, have, in the current avasarpini, risen in the history of the world and directed or influenced its course, they comprise the twentyfour Tirthankaras, the twelve Cakravartins, the nine Vasudevas, the nine Baladevas and the nine Prativasudevas
The biographies of these great personages vary greatly in extent and interest Some consist of little but statistics, others are rich in folk-lore, fiction, exposition of Jaina doctrines, etc
It is one of the latest works of Hemacandra, as is evident from the prasasti to the tenth prava, where he enumerates works that he has written for king Kumarapala, for himself, and for the people
It is written in an easy style of anustubha metre on the model of the Purānas, the Rāmāyana and the Mahābhārata, and contains fine descriptions