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In literary activity., Jains have held a prominent position. Their scholars and philosophers have composed voluminous works on philosophy, logic, comparative religion, grammar, prosody, mnathematics, lexicography, music, history, biography, astronomy, etc., besides works on their ceremonial and ritualism. Out of the many authors, only a few need be mentioned here. Bhadrabahu Suri composed “Niryktis" on ten works of the Jain canon, also a work on a stronomy. Devarddhi Gani, the Kshamashramana, is the redactor of the sacred canon; 980 years after Mabavira, the last Arhat, Devarddhi, seeing that all the canonical works were being lost in course of tme, caused them to be written down. Before that time the sacred literature was handed down from master to disciple without the help of books. Siddhasena, the Divakara, converted King Vikramaditya to Jainism, and is the author of many philosophical works. Haribhadra, a Brahmin by birth and a covert to Jainism, composed 1,444 Prakarnnas (short treatises) on various subjects. Malaygiri is another well-known author. Abhayadeva Suri wrote commentaries on nine principal canonical works. Devendra Suri wrote works on Karma etc. Dharmasagara contributed a work on the history and beliefs of heterodox sects. Hemchandra, the well-known encyclopædist, brought Prince Kumarapala of Gujarat to Jainism, and is the reputed author of three crores and a half of couplets. Yasovijaya wrote many works. Muni Atamaramji,.
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