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The Jaina Philosophy
Haribhadra, a Brahman by birth and a convert to Jainism, composed 1,444 Prakaranas (short treatises) on various subjects. Malayagiri is another well-known author. Abhayadeva wrote commentaries on nine principal canonical works. Devendra Suri wrote works on Karma, etc. Dharmasagara contributed a work on the history and beliefs of heterodox sects. Hemachandra, the well-known encyclopedist, brought Prince Kumarapala of Gujrat to Jainism, and is the reputed author of three crores and a half of couplets. Yasovijaya wrote many works. Muni Atmaramji, who died only four years ago, composed several works in popular style, thus bringing home the Jaina philosophy to the masses.
In the literary world of India Jainas justly claim the credit of accurate recording of history. Accurate chronicling of events and history-making seldom find a place in the ancient works of Hindus. Among the Jainas, however, the case is different. Since the time of their first literary activity they have been recording the most important historical events of the time. Authors and commentators mention, at the end of their respective works, the names of their spiritual predecessors and the work done by them. Jaina Pattavalis lists of spiritual heads of the community, with a short sketch of their lives and description of the leading events of the time, are well-known, and are being earnestly studied by German Oriental scholars and Professor Bendall of London. Jacobi, Klatt, Buhler, and last but not the least my friend Protessor Jjeumann, of the Strassburg University, have settled many points of Jaina history with the aid of these Pattavalis.
The sacred libraries of Jainas, established at various periods of our history for the purpose of facilitating to laymen the study of their philosophy and religion, contain thousands of manuscripts, some of which have not been allowed to be even looked at, for the reason that the Jainas, not being aware of the motives of the European scholars, are still apprehensive of the consequences of Mohammedan sacrilege and destruction of everything that is
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