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Jaina Grantha Bhandārs in Rājasthän.
CARITA LITERATURE IN PRAKRIT & APABHRAMSA
Light literature written in Prakrit and Apabhramsa in the form of Caritas is also in good quantity and is available in the Jaina Sastra Bhandārs of Rajasthan.
Silacarya was the first scholar who composed Mahapurşa Carita in Samvat 925 (868 A D) in Präkrit. He was the pupil of Mahadeva Sūrī. The work describes the lives of the 63 great persons. Mahavira Carita in Prakrit was composed by Nemicandra Süri, in Samvat 1141 (1084 AD) It is in eight Chapters and was composed at the orders of Prasanna Candra Sūri pupil of Jina Candra Suri. The language of the work is simple and beautiful. The work also contains about 50 Apabhramsa verses.
Hart Candra Carita also called as Vijaycandra Carita, was written by Candraprabha Mahattara, pupil of Abhayadeva Suri of Khartar Gacha. It was composed at the request of Viradeva Gani and it is in two parts. Both are in Prakrit. The work contains stotries which ilustrate the SwetambarJain modes of Jina's worship Śri Santācārya composed Prathvi Candra Canta in Samvat 1161 (1104 A.D). Deva Bhadragani, pupil of Sumati Upadhayaya and Prasanna Candra wrote Pärswanatha Carita. The work is in Prakrit and contain five Chapters. It was composed in the year 1111 A D.
Yaśodeva pupil of Devagupta Suri composed Candradrabha Carita' in the year 1121. Virasuri composed Candraprabha Carita in Samvat 1138 (1081 A.D.) in Prakrit. He was the pupil of Siddhasuri One manuscript of this work written on palm leave and dated 1217, is preserved in Jaisalmer Bhandar. Haribhadra Suri pupil of Jindeva of Brihad Gacha composed Mumipati Carita in the year 1115. Laksmanagani pupil of Hemcandra Sui composed Suparsva Cari'ra in Samvat 1199 (1142 A.D). It is in Prakrit and contains about 8700 Gâthās.
Dhahila an Apabhramsa poet of 12th century wrote Paumsiri Cariu. He was the son of Parsva Kävi
Sridhar, a famous poet of 12th century composed three works in Apabhramsa Päsnäh Cariu, Sukamāla Cariu and Bhavisyatta Cariu2. The manuscrip.s of these three works are in the collection of Amer Sästra Bhandar. Devasanagani
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1. Published in the Atmavallabh series No 9 Ambala.
Amer Sastra Bhandar, Jaipur.
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