Jain Thought and Culture

Author(s): G C Pandey
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

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Some Aspects of Medieval Jain Historical Literature and Historiography
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Among the historical literature of the early medieval period the Upamitibhavaprapancha-katha of Siddha Shri Gani occupies a pre-eminent position It is a type of Katha Kavya (V S 962) in which attempt has been made by the writer to win over the masses by preaching the religious doctrine of renunciation and contempt of the world through legendary tales and moral examples in all the eight chapters the author has thrownlight through narratives, partly in prose and partly in verse, in a manner that the philosophical knowledge of self-sacrifice and love for all beings may become understandable to an average mind 2 The very fact that the Upamıtı contains so many and so multifarious aspects--astronomy, astrology, logic, politics, war strategy etc, makes it more suited than any other literary work, to afford us an insight into the deepest wisdom of the soul of Indian life and thought The dialogue between jiua and and Bhagwan,3 the description of chase, the Manishibaikatha, the story of Nandivardhan,' Vellahalkatha, Vasantaratavarnani etc, are after the pattern of the old epic poetry The work, in any case, as claimed by the author, is based on the Avashyakasutra, the Uttaradhyayansutra, old narratives and many other moralising maxims ? The composition is after the style of Akhyanas with which we are acquainted in the Brahmans The discussion on some philosophical aspects like kala, karma, dharma, jiva, maya, etc, reach back to the spirit of the ancient Indian thought 8 Its account of Kapinjala' and Vaishvanara,lo by virtue of their treatment, appear to have been drawn from the old Puranic lores
The Puranic writings also open a new door for the study of historiography in Jain literature The Digambara Jains began to compose the Puranas from the seventh century onwards with great enthusiasm 11 Ravisena wrote the Padmapurana in 660 AD Then
2 Upamıtı, Kamal Prakashan, Pt I, pp 14-17 3 Ibid , p 42-43 4 Ibid , p 173 5 Ibid ,p 206 6 Ibid, p 228 7 Upamiti, Pratham Prastava 8 Upamili Prastava I pp 18, 24, 31, 54 9 Ibid , II, p. 151 10 Ibid , II, p. 156 11 Pargiter, Markandeyapurana, Transp, Xiv, Maurice Winternitz, History of Indian Literature, Vol I p 524