Jaina Literature in Tamil

Author(s): A Chakravarti, K V Ramesh
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 43

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A. CHAKRAVARTI :
work of Agastya contains a section on northern languages, the Sanskritic languages. Here, after referring to Sanskrit and Apabhramsa, it speaks of 'Pahatam' as a language used by all the countries.1 On a former occasion we had to refer to the fact of Prakrta being specially associated with the Jaina leaders of thought in the North. A reference to this in the Tamil grammar as a language spoken all over the land is a very significant fact in as much as it would imply the early introduction of Prākṛta literature and the migration of Prakṛta-speaking people into the Tamil land. Another relevant fact is the description of vaḍakkiruttal or sallekhana found in some of the so-called Sangam collections. This vaḍakkiruttal is said to be practised by some kings who were followed by their friends. An important religious practice associated with the Jainas is known as sallēkhana. When a person, suffering from illness or otherwise, realises that death is at hand and that it is no use to waste time in drugging the body he resolves to spend the rest of his life in meditation and prayer. He no more accepts food or medicine till the end of life. This practice is called sallëkhana and a reference to this is found in the earliest Tamil collec tions where it is spoken of as vaḍakkiruttal.
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1. Sentami! (Madurai), Vol. VIII (1909-10), p. 471, Përagattiyām, Vaḍapadappaḍalam. Pakatam is described therein as 'ella naṭṭilum iyalvadu', i.e. 'current in all countries'.
2. The Cultural Heritage of India (Ramakrishna centenary Memorial Volume), Vol. I, p. 187.
3. Puranaṇuru (Ed. by U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, 1894), Purams 65-66, 191, 214, 218-20, 223, 236; Sirupañcamülam, 73.