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Subjects Dealt With
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There is scarcely any province of Indian literature to which the Jainas have not contributed. Besides the religious they have developed a voluminous narrative literature. They have written epics, novels, dramas, bhajans and stories. Generally they have written in the simple language of the people, but they have indulged in highly elaborate style also. We find highly ornate court poetry. They have also produced important works of scholarship.
Almost the whole of the Agama literature written in Prikrit is available in these Bhandārs. Works on the principles of Jainism are numerous and are found in number of Giantha Bhandārs. The Jaina Ācāryas and scholars created a pretty laige literature on duties of householders and those of homeless ascetics. This is also called Ācāra sastra. Then there are hundreds of works written on the lives of Tirthankaras and other great personalities of Jaina Mythology. They are called Purānas and Caritas The number of stories illustrating Jaina proverbs is also quite large and some of them are excellent There are works collectively called Katha Kosas TREASURY OF STORIES written by the various authors
Manuscripts on logic and philosophy are also in a large number. The Jaina Acārya's contribution in this respect is tremendous. The works of Acārya Samantabhadra, Vidyānandı, Aklanka, Haribhadra Sūri and Hemcandra etc. were very popular and their works have been collected in several Grantha Bhandars. Manuscripts in these Bhandārs are not limited to only Jaina logie and philosophy but works like Vedāntasār of Sadānand Muklāwali of Viswanatha and Tarkasangraha of Annam Bhatta are also preserved There are numerous manuscripts on Yoga and Adhyātma. The Pūíă literature has been popular from about the 10th century, so the scholars took much interest in creating such literature And hundreds of manus cripts on Pūļā were written and preserved in Jaina Grantha Bhandārs. There is not a single Bhandār where this kind of literatu.e is not available
Apart from these religious as well as secular subjects, there is also a good number of manuscupts which deal with the general subjects. There are hundreds ol manuscripts wiitten on astronomy, astrology, metrology, and medicines. On these subjects there are works written both by Jaina and non-Jaina authors. Works relating to grammer are also many. Manuscripts on the interesting subjects like Art and Architecture, Dances and Dramas are also in good number
AGAMA & SIDDHĀNTA LITERATURE
The collective term given by the Jainas to their sacred books is Agama or Siddhant. The two important sects hold different opinions about this literature.
