________________
The Jaina-Purāņas occupy a position of high importance in the history of ancient Indian literature. These Purāņas were composed for the subjects of the religious rules and regulations, the moral conduct, the life-history of the Jaina Thirthankaras and the folk-tales of the Jainas. Simultaneously the contemporary political, social and religious conditions have also been efficiently portrayed here. Like the other branches of Indian literature the supernatural elements also have got place in the Jaina-Purāņas, but it could not occupy the position of supreme importance. The religious as well as the cultural backgrounds of the Purānas are very much important. Literature, Philosophy, Polity, the different aspects of the public life and conduct, pleasures and amusements, the picture of the rural life, the ethical principles-all these have got position in the Jaina-Purāņas. Though the Jaina-religion is not fully parallel to the nature of the Vedic religion, the Vedic customs and manners, rites and rituals-all these are described in the Jaina Purāņas with sufficient dignity and importance. Therefore the JainaPurāņṇas have been treated as sources of valuable information for the contemporary religious, political, social and cultural history of ancient
India.
A STUDY ON THE JAINA-PURĀŅAS
SANKAR PRASAD BANDYOPADHYAY
In ancient Indian history we can find a period when most of the kings of different regions followed Jainism and on account of royal patronage Jainism spread out all over the country.
The Jaina-Purāņas are divided into two :
1. The Purāṇas and
2. The Mahapurāņas.
Those poetical compositions which are composed with the story of one Salākā Puruşa (great personality) are called Purana and those which are composed with the story of more than one Salākā Puruṣa (great personalities) and with a maximum limit of 63 Salākā Puruṣas are called Mahāpurāṇa. The number of cantos (sarga) belonging to the Purānas and Mahāpurāṇas vary from 12 to 125 as we receive them. Again it is noticable that in the wide range of Jaina literature there are some Purānas and Mahāpurānas which have the same title, but the composers are different.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
