Jain Thought and Culture

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

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Jain Thought and Culture
followed a large number of theme, among which the Harivamsha Purana, the Parshvanath Purana tle Neminath purana of the medieval times are pre-eminent The chief characteristic of these Puranas is their rigidity and sectarian character. All these Puranas contain references to Jain cults, rituals, fasts, pilgrimplaces, pious saints and shravakas Along with these references there are numerous mythological narratives, allegories and legends of kings and sages of primeval times--partly historical and partly imaginary Just as in the Brahmanic Purana, so here too, there are legends and dialogues upon the duties of the monks and shravakas, upon fasts and ceremonies, upon conduct in the daily life etc 12
Very numerous are the Prabandhas in apabhramsha They are also a sort of continuation of the traditional style They contain ancient myths and legends together with the mode and manner of rites and ceremonies belonging to the Jain discipline Haribhadra Suri's Samaraiccakana of the 8th century AD belongs to the type of Dharmakatha or religious romance As the author was well-versed in the Brahmanic lores and Buddhism his work shows his excellence as a theologion As for the style of the work, it is written in flowing Maharastrı Prakrit But in places it contains intolerablylong compounds in imitation of the Sanskrit literary style Many a content of the legends and tales, such as that of Bhandhudatta, Dharna, Vidyadhar etc , are often in literal agreement with the tales of the Puranic literature 13
Similarly, the Kuvalayamalal4 of Udyotansuri (783 AD) contains varied aspects of life connected with human and superhuman beings It also plans inter-connected tales and legends related to kings, courtiers, queens, Mlecchas, Vetalas, Yakshas, Rakshakas, students, Vankanyas, Jineshwar etc , after Puranic style The narrator also concerns itself with moral & philosophical ideas popular with the ancient writers Many works like the,Suyacharitra, Sursundari Chariya, Taranglola, Mahavir Chariya, Kumarpal Chariya, Neminath Chariya, Malaya Sundarıkaha etc, of the early medieval century bear semi-historical and legendary character Though the writers of these works are not very particular about the historical
12 Prashastısangraha, pp 24-25, Bulletin of the School of Onental Studies, Vol III 13 Samaraccakaha, Bhaya 1-2, vy 23 25, Bhava 6th vv 23-50, 60 81, etc., MC Modi, Prakrit Granth Mala, No 7 14 Kuvalayamala, Singhi Series, Introduction, pp 1-15