________________
Jainism: The Cosmic Vision The Sanskrit literature of the Jains contains a number of major philosophical and literary classics which belong to the ancient heritage of India. Umasvati, Siddhasena, Divakara, Samantabhadra, Vidyananda, Haribhadra and Hemachandra made contribution which are enduring landmarks in the development of Indian thought and culture.
As regards the Jain influence in the South, the laborious researches of Burness, Buhler, Burges Hoernle, Jacobi and Lewis Rice have almost conclusively proved that the Jains profoundly influenced the political, religious and literary institutions of India. The Kural, an ethical poem of considerable importance in ancient Tamil literature, was composed about the ist Century A.D., by Saint Tiruvalluvar, who was definitely a sympathizer of Jainism. It is also now almost certain that the Tolkappiyam, an authoritive work on Tamil grammar which is perhaps the earliest among the Tamil texts, was composed by a Jain. Among the other important Tamil works of Jain authorship may be mentioned, the Naladiyar and the like, composed during the early centuries of the Christian Era.
The "Augustan Age" of Tamil literature was the period of the predominance of the Jains in intellect and learning. Jainism became the religion of some of the Pandyan Kings. Nevertheless they retained in full their intellectual vitality which had in earlier times produced such classical works as the "Kural", Valaiyapati, Silappadikaram and Jivaka Shinamani. Three of the five Tamil Mahakavyas were composed by Jain writers. Moreover, the Jains continued to enrich the Tamil vocabulary by introducing a large numbers of Sanskrit derivatives and bringing them into conformity with Tamil Phonetics.
The Value and Heritage of Jain Religion The Jains rendered valuable and extensive services to Kannada literature also. Some of the greatest among the Jain poets flourished during the oth Century A. D., the Golden Age of Kannada literature. Thus Ponna, a Jain Saint upon whom the Rashtrakuta King Kannara conferred the title Kavichakravarti, composed Shantipurana and Bhuvanaika Ramabhyudaya during the period. Next we come to the great poet Pampa who was regarded as the father of Kannada literature. Another great Jain writer of Kannada prose and poetry in that century was Chamundaraya, who besides being an able administrator and warrior, was a patron of Ranna, among others. It was he who had the colossal image of Gomateshvara carved at Shravana Belgola. Jain influence on Telugu deserves careful investigation.
Almost every decade during medieval times in Gujarat saw a progressive enrichment of Gujarati literature with remarkable creations, major contributions here being the books written by the Jain saints. Moreover, the unique service of the Jain Bhandars in preserving the manuscripts, especially those on palm-leaves, is very memorable. Besides book writing, the Jains have carried out the laudable task of preserving and spreading knowledge.
The Jains were also great patrons of art. Indian art, both Northern and Southern, owes to them a number of remarkable monuments. And in architecture, their achievements are still greater.
As singular edifices illustrating the beauty of Jain art, both in design and elaboration of workmanship, one may cite the temples of Mount Abu.
In South India, too, idol worship and temple building on a grand scale may be attributed fianlly to Jain influence. The
19
