Jain Journal 2000 04

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

Page 39

HAMPANA : THE RĀȘTRAKŪTAS AND JAINISM
195 another important work Niti-Vakyāmsta which is on a par with Kautilya's Artha-śāstra.
Along with Sanskrit, Prakrit also flourished under the patronage of Rāştrakūta monarchs. Most illustrious writers in Apabhramśa like Svayambhū and Tribhuvana-Svayambhū wrote the major works in Prakrit literature. Kavirāja, king of poets, Svayambhū, son of Padmini and Mārutadēva had two consorts, Amrtāmbā and Adityāmbā. In his brief biographical note he introduces himself as being physically weak and ugly with a flat nose. Whatever be that, his works are of very high quality. His patron was Dhananjaya. He belonged to Apuli-samgha. In the period of Subhatunga Krsna-I, Akālavarsa he wrote two works, Pauma-Cariu (Sk. Padma-Carita) and Rittha-nemi-cariu (Harivamsa purāņa). He wrote upto 82 chapters and later his son, TribhuvanaSvayambhū completed the remaining last eight chapters of Harivamsapurana Svayambhū-Candas, another work of Svayambhū, deals with various metres employed in Prakrit and Apabhramsa kāvyas. Tribhuvana-Svayambhū lived during the time of Prabhutavarşa Govinda-II (A.D. 773-80).
Perhaps the greatest of Apabhramsa literature, Puşpadanta flourished during the age of Krsna-III. Mahākavi Puspadanta has written three kāvyas: 1. Tisatthi-Mahāpurisa-Gunālankāru (Sk. TrişastiMahāpurusa-Gunālankārah). 2. Jasa-hara-cariu (Sk. Yasodhara-carita) and 3. Nayakumāra-cariu (Sk. Nagakumāra-carita). Of the three, the first one is an epic, dealing with the lives of Tirthankaras, Cakravartis, Baladēvas, Vāsudēva and Prati-Vasudevas. Jasahara-cariu deals with most popular Jaina narrative theme of king Yasodhara and his queen Amstamati. The story of Ņayakumara-cariu extols the merit. of śrutapañcami. Puşpadanta is credited with lucid and mellifluous style that has contributed to the glory of Prakrit literature. He has carved a niche in the hall of fame.
Nemicandra-Siddhānta-Cakravarti, abbot of Sravanabelagola monastery and preceptor of Cāmundarāya, minister and general of the Ganga kings. His felicitous approach and mastery in Jaina canonical knowledge is transparent in his Prakrit works. Thus, he was able to give the very quintessence of Jaina philosophy to his pupil Cāvuņdarāya, crystellizing it in his Gommața-sāra containing two books, Jivakānda and Karmakānda. This work is based on both Satkhandāgama and Dhavalā commentaries. Of Nemicandrācārya's other works, Dravya-samgraha deals with the Jiva and ajīva concept. His gāthas reflect an extraordinary grip over Prakrit language, and thus form a solid contribution to the Prakrit lore.