________________
Literary activities of Jainas in the seventeenth century
१०५
was another attempt to bring literature nearer to the life of the common
man.
Pattavalis constitute another important feature of literary achievements of Jains. Samaya Sundar, a poet as well as a scholar, wrote a poem on meeting of his preceptor Jinachandra Suri with Akbar. 24 In fact, the writing of prasastis and biographies in Hindi began with the Jains. They usually wrote about their religious teachers, rich patrons who subsidised these authors or spent lavishly on religious ceremonies, and important political authorities. Any such piece of writing necessitated a detailed history of the family of the hero of the narrative. other group of authors in Hindi have taken so much pains to furnish genealogies. 25 Systematic recording of genealogies or Prasastis in Hindi especially of those not belonging to royalty was begun by Jain scholars. Their value as source-material for students of history is inestimable. In this case again, the Jain scholars were merely carrying forward a tradition which had already been developed in Sanskrit. 26 For the student of Indian society these genealogies provide further data for his study.
No
If the main character was a trader, author sometimes indicates the type and mode of business he was conducting, the places where he had his business interests, his wealth and his life-style.27 The descriptions, undoubtedly, were replete with poetic fancies but nevertheless contained a hard core of truth about the mundane activities of all sections of their co-religionists: the laity and the monks.
24. Ibid., p. 479; Agarchand Nahta and Bhanvarlal Nahta, Yug pradhan Shri Jinchandra Suri, Calcutta, 2029 V. S., pp. 5-6; Muni Padmasundar wrote Akbar Shahi-Sringardar pan and Jinachandra Suri wrote Akbar-Pratibod hras. Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain, Pramukh Aitihasik Jain Purush aur Mahilayen, New Delhi, 1975, p. 279
25. Pattavali Prabandh Sangrah, compiled by Acharya Sri Hastimalji Maharaj and edited by Dr. Narendra Bhanavat, Jaipur, 1968
26.
27.
Sri Pattavali Pragsangrah, written and compiled by Pandit Kalyan Vijay Gani, Jalor, 1966, pp. 118, 264
Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain, op. cit., pp. 282-83
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