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JAINA BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pp. 360-61. Tirumalisai a Vaishanava alvāra contemporary of Mahendravarman I. He is reported to have tried both Jainism and Buddhism before turning Vaishnava Yogi (8th century). He has many flings at Jains, Buddhists and Śaivas. His works-Nanmugantiruvandadi and Tiruc-Candaviruttam.
Pp. 362-63. In the field of general literature, the three most outstanding works are by Jain and Buddhist authors. The Silappadikaram unsurpassed Gem, its authorship and date are doubtful; The work in some ways unique in the whole range of Tamil literature. Its theme given.
1331
P. 363. Perumgadai (Sanskrit Brithat-Katha) of Konguvelir, another great poem by a Jain author of which only parts are available. It tells of the adventures of Naravanadatta, the son of the celebrate Udayana of Kausambi. As a narrative poem the Perungadai has exceptional metrits and it deservedly popular. Valaiyapati and Kandalakesi the two other Jain Kayas in Tamil have been lost but were one counted among the five Kayas. The commentary on a Tapparangalam, a Jain Grammar, cites many works on grammar by Jain authors.
Pp. 364-65. The age of the imperial Cholas (850-1200) was the Golden age of Tamil culture and patronage of literature, Jain and Buddhist authors continued to flourish though not in such members as in the earlier age. Many works mentioned in the numerous inscriptions of the period have been lost beyond recovery. In general literature, the Jtoakacintamani of the Jain ascetic and poet Tiruttakkadevar was composed in the tenth century. The story of Jivaka given. The poem is said to have been the author's answer to a challenge that though Jain writers were admittedly distinguished in the field of religious literatures they could make no contribution to the literature of love. Saint Tiruttakkudevar is thought to have been a Chola prince by birth. Another Jain writer was Tolamoli (a man of unsurpassed eloquence) whose Sulamani handles a Jain Puranic Theme in very multifluous verse and is counted among the five minor Kavyas of Tamil literature.
P. 370. The Yapparungalam and Yapparungalakkakakagai two authoritative works on prosody, were composed by Amitasägara, a Jain ascetic of the close of the Tenth century. Both have lucid commentaries or Karigai (Skt. Kärikā) by Gunasagara, a Jain ascetic (a pupil of Amitasigara who was patronized by the contemporary Chola monarchs).
P. 371. The Neminadam of Gunavirpandita a Jain of the time of Kulottunga II; it treats of the orthographs and parts of speech; named the work after Neminatha the Tirthankara of South Mylapore. Another work of the same writer on prosody was Vaccanandi-malai, named after the authers Guru; it is also known as Venbappaltiyal. The Nannul was the work of Pavanandi, another Jain Grammarian
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