Jain System in Nutshell

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Nij Gyan Sagar Shiksha Kosh Santa MP

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(16) regional languages like Sanskrit, Kannad, Tamil, Telugu, Gujrati and Hindi etc. are not given here. However, it should be known that the Jainas form the backbone of the literature of southern Indian languages. All this first category literature has influenced western scholars who have opined for its excellence for its style and variety. This category has done much to glorify Jain teaching among common masses. The westerners are now researching on this literature critically
The second category of literature has special name for the Jainas. Traces of this literature is found in scriptures but later Jain scholars wrote specialised books on astrology (Padlipt' suri, 100 AD), Geography (Umasvati, 200 AD, Padmnandi, 1000 AD), Mathematics (Yastivrshabh, 500 AD, Mahavir 800 AD), Medicine (Pujypad, 500 AD, Ugradity, 800 AD), Prognostics (Narpati, 1300 AD), Dreamology (Malayaprabh, 1200 AD), Incantationology (Muni dev suri, 1300 AD), Music (Mandan Mantri, 1300 AD, Parshvchandra, 1400 AD), Karmology (Hitsharm, 200 AD, Chandrarshi, 500 AD, Nemchandra, 1000 AD, Devendrasuri, M. Traividya, Yashovijay, 1700 A D) Gemology (Pheru, 1315)], Palmistry and other technical and arts subjects.
A number of scriptural texts form the fourth category of literature containing ontology, philosophy and epistemology etc. This is intellectual's category, Kundkund, Samantbhadra, Akalanka, Vidyanand, Siddhsen Diwakar, Prabhachandra, Mallvadi, Haribhadra. Hemchandra, Yashovijay and other scholars have illuminated this field.
The illuminaries in Jain literary history suggest that they have shown non-sectarian point of view in their literature except the religious one. The varied literature also leads scholars to guess about the literary genious of Jain monks. This genious associated with co-operative, tolerant and non-prejudicial spirit have made an impression on the intellectual world. That is why, no literary history of India could be without it.
It may be added here that not only monks of early periods have contributed to Jain literature, non-monk scholars have also yielded good literature at various times-though rare in early period but it is they who are now contributing maximum in current centuries. Non-Jain scholars have also contributed in composing Jain literature. Schisms among Jainas
It is said that a living or vital system or church progresses through its schisms. Jain church is no exception to this. It remained virtually unified about 150 years after Mahavir. However, there are many schisms among Jainas originated during different periods but, two of them are most important; skyclads and white-clads. They seem to have nucleated during the period of Bhadrabahu-Sthulbhadra (i.e. 357B.C.), when after a