Jainas in History of Indian Literature

Author(s): Jinvijay
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 67

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late professor Bühler, has written many years ago.
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JAINAS IN INDIAN LITERATURE
"In grammar, in astronomy as well as in all branches of belles lettres the achievements of the Jainas have been so great, that even their opponents have taken notice of them, and that some of their works are of importance for European science even to-day. In the South of India where they have worked among the Dravidian peoples, they have also promoted the development of these languages. The Canarese, Tamil and Telugu literary languages rest on the foundations created by the Jaina monks. Though this activity has led them far away from their own particular aims, yet it has secured for them an important place in the history of Indian literature and civilisation."
67 G. Bühler, Uber die indische sakte der Jainas (Al, manach der kais. Akademie der wissenschaften, Wien
1887), p. 17 f.