Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

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LITERATURE
Prabhacandra's Commentaries :
Prabhacandra, a famous Digambara writer of the 11th century, composed a number of commentaries on philosophical and other works. His Prameyakamalamārtanda and Nyāyakumudacandra are comprehensive Sanskrit commentaries on the Paríkşamukha (a work on Jaina logic by Mánikyanandin) and the Laghiyastraya (a work on Jaina logic by Akalanka) respectively. They deal with all important philosophical problems.
Hemacandra's Works :
Hemacandra was the most versatile and prolific Jaina writer of Sanskrit. Since he composed works in the most varied domains, he was called 'the Omniscient of the Kali Age (Kalikalasarvajña). He was born in 1089 A. D. and died in 1172 A. D. He belonged to the Svetambara sect. His patrons were the Caulukya kings Jayasimha (Siddharăja) and Kumarapala of Gujarat.
The Siddhahema-śabdanuśasana and the Linganuśasana are two important works on grammar by Hemacandra. The Siddhahema-sabdanuśāsana is in eight chapters. It has the author's own commentaries as well as commentaries by others. Its first seven chapters are on Sanskrit grammar and the eighth one, i. e., the last chapter is on Prakrit (including Apabhramsa) grammar. The Lingānuśasana contains 138 verses. It is also commented upon by the author himself, as well as by others.
Hemacandra's lexicons include the Abhidhānacintamani, the Anekārthasangraha, the Deśīnāmamala and the Nighapțuśeșa. The Abhidhānacintamani consists of six chapters. The Anekārthasangraha and the Nighapțuśeșa are its supplements. It has the author's own commentary as well as commentaries by others. The Deśınamamāla (also called Ratnāvall). was the latest and probably the largest of ancient Indian lexicons of a certain class of Prakrit words. In this