Jain Journal 2004 04

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

Page 27

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JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XXXVIII, NO. 4 APRIL. 2004
he has systematically explored the knowledge and wisdom stored up in the Jaina ethos. The Adipurana, "Lorebook of the Beginning", the veritable cultural encyclopaedia of Jaina church, rests upon concepts which are exclusively Indian and possesses the character of a categorical ancient tradition. In this perspective, the Adipurāṇa assumes majestic proportions.
The Rāṣṭrakūta era ushered in palmy days for Jaina literary renaissance, and Acārya Jinasena, most illustrious patriarch revered by the Jaina church was the creme de la creme of the age. Gifted with unquestionable literary flair, he has authored prominent works of extraordinary merit, both in Prakrit and Sanskrit. By any standard, undoubtedly, Jinasena, respected as Kalikāla-sarvajña, the omniscient of kali era, was the uncrowned monarch of the Jaina literary world of the Rāṣṭrakūta age. His works, the Pārsväbhyudaya, 'the prosperity of Arhat Pārsva', the Jaya-dhavalā-tikā, 'the victoriously luminous gloss' (on the Kaṣāya-Prābhṛta), and the Adipurāṇa 'the Lorebook of the Beginning', are of historical importance and are regarded as tour de force, feat of skill, with a stamp of authority and permanency on them.
For the first time in the Jaina literary practice Jinasena defined the visage of Mahāpurāṇa: "I shall recite the narrative of the sixty three ancient persons of the Tirthankaras, of the Cakravartins, of Baladevas, of half Cakravartins (Vasudevas alias Nārāyaṇas) and of their opponents (Prati-Vasudevas alias Prati-Nārāyaṇas). The work is called Purana because it relates to the great persons, or because it is narrated by the great sages, or because it teaches the way to great bliss. Other writers say that, because it originated with the old poet it is called Purāṇa, and it is called Mahā-, great, because of its intrinsic greatness. The great sages have called it a Mahapurāṇa, because it relates to Mahāpuruṣās, great men, and because it teaches the bliss" [Adipurāṇa, 1.20-23]. Purānas contain the biography/legend/story of mainly one hero/great person (salākā puruṣa), whereas Mahapuraṇas narrate the account of all the sixty-three greatmen. "The Mahāpurāṇa is a term peculiar to the Jain literature and means a great narrative of the ancient names. There are Purāņas or old tales in the Jain literature, but they narrate the life of a single individual or holy person. The