Jainism

Author(s): N R Guseva
Publisher: Sindu Publications P L

Page 99

LITERATURE AND ART OF THE JAINS
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century. The work is called Trishashti-Shalaka-Purushacharita (life of 63 best persons).
Hemchandra wrote the treatise Yogashastra for the ruler Kumarapala, which praises Jainism and fiercely attacks Hinduism as an amoral, unjust religion, which does not know the real doctrine of ahimsa.10
There is also another type of such stories, which is called 'Prabandha'. They describe the lives of distinguished monks and laymen. This literature contains many interesting testimonies to the life of the representatives of various strata of the society. Such stories were composed by both Shvetambaras and Digambaras.
Jain prose usually alternates with insertions in verses (this is an ancient principle of compositions in prose in the whole of India).
Yashastilaka written by Somadeva, a Digambara, in the tenth century is a famous story in prose and poetry. Its theme is also intended to propagate the omnipotence of Jainism. It tells about the king of Maridatta, who once decided to sacrifice a girl and a boy from the Jain community but suddenly thought that they may be the children of his own sister, who had become a Jain nun after leaving her family. After inquiries, it was revealed that, that was exactly so. The children narrated the story of their previous births from which it became clear that all the great poets, such as Vyasa, the author of Mahabharata, Kalidasa, Bana and others treated Jainism with deep reverence. Startled by what he learnt, the king became a Jain.
Poetry occupies an important place in Jainism. Many religious-lyrical verses, known as stotras were composed in Sanskrit. However, many others were also composed in Prakrit and in new Indian languages. Various miracles which ensured conversion of people into Jainism, are described in those sto tras. Such polemics with Brahmins (for example, in the poem Subhashita Ratna Samdha-collection of marvellous treasures of speech) are contained in the poetic expositions of Jain ethics, especially in the works of Digambara-poets. The author of Subhashita Ratna Samdha, Amitagati, also composed other
10. The Shvetambara monks must daily read the first four chapters of this book