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JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXXIV, No. 2 October 1999
was born as the son of a very rich man. But it is due to want of attachment for the family life, he entered into the order of asceticism.
Kavi Raidhū, a Jaina-poet of the 15th century (1400-1470 A.D.), composed Puranas and other poems in Apabhramsa and Sanskrit. His father was Harisimha, mother Vijayasri, wife Savitri and son was Udayarāja. He was not a poet of a very high order.
His Padmapurāna deals with the story of Rāma. Harivamsapurana deals with the story of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. It has 14 Sandhis and 302 Kadavakas. The description of Rsavadeva, Vasudeva, Balabhadra, Neminatha etc. are praise-worthy. Parsvapurana in Apabhramsa deals with Parsvanātha, the 23rd Thirthankara. It is divided into 7 Sandhis. It is treated to be the best work of Raidhū,
There are other two works of Raidhū-1) Mahāvīrapurana and 2) Balabhadra Purana
Dr. Rajarama Jain has got 37 works of Raidhū the manuscripts of his works are kept in Digambar Jaina Mandir, Jayapur, Rajasthan. (Mahakavi Raidhū Ke Sahitya Ka Alocanätmaka Parisilana, p. 49).
A list of the Purāņas narrating the Story of one Salākā-Purusa is given below:
Name of the Works Vardhamana-purāņa Santinātha-purāna Mahāvira-purana Camunda-Purāņa Parsva-purāna Mallinātha-purana Pārsva-purāna Pārsvanātha-purana
Author Jinasena Asama kavi Asama kavi Cāmundārāya Padmakirti Sri Jannācārya Kavi Raidhū Bhattāraka Subhūşana Nemidatta Vadicandra Kesavasena Bhattāraka Subhacandra
Date of Composition 3rd century A.D. 10th century A.D. 10th century A.D. 980 A.D. 999 A.D. 1209 A.D. 1400-1470 A.D.
1500 A.D.
Neminātha-puräna Anantanātha-purāna Kamāmsta-purāna Padmanami-purana
1575 A.D. 1668 A.D. 1688 A.D. 1700 A.D.
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