Jaina Literature in Tamil

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

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A. CHAKRAVARTI:
Rāṣṭrakūta dynasty.' But Jinasēna himself speaks of several previous works on which he bases his own composition. Anyhow it is generally agreed by scholars that this Tamil classic Jivaka-Cintamani is probably later than the 8th century A.D. We may accept this verdict for the present. The work is divided into 13 ilambakas or chapters, the first beginning with the birth and education of the hero and the last ending with his Nirvāṇa.
1. Namagal-ilambakam-The story begins with the description of the country Hemangada in Bharatakhanda. Rājamāpuram is the capital of Hēmāngada. The ruler was Saccandan of the Kuru dynasty. This Saccandan married his maternal uncle Sridattan's daughter named Vijaya. This Sridattan was ruling over the country of Vidēha. Since the king Saccandan was so much in love with his wife who was extremely beautiful, he spent most of his time in her apartment without attending to his state affairs. He delegated to one of his ministers Kaṭṭiyangāran the royal privileges to be exercised. This Kaṭṭiyangāraṇ, when once he
1. Amöghavarsha I who reigned from A.D. 814 to 886 was a mere boy of twelve at the time of his accession and hence his teacher Jinasēna should properly be assigned to the 9th century.
2. T. A. Gopinatha Rao (Sentamil, Vol. V, p. 15), T. S. Kuppuswami Sastri (Tamilaham, Vol. I, p. 130) and S. Vaiyapuri Pillai (History of Tamil Language and Literature, 1956, p. 161), among others, assign this work to the early decades of the 10th century.