Jains Through Time

Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 62

The Jains through Time
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Indian philosophical circles today.
scholarly treasures. Acharyas Devnandi,
Jinbhadragani Kshamashraman, Akalak, In spite of continuous debates on the Mantung, Bappabhatti, Amritchandra, interpretation of canon law - of what rules Abhaydev, Nemichandra, Haribhadra - who to follow and what prohibitions to observe stands out the most? Who wears the - Jainism has still managed to make an brightest colours? Each in their own way incredible contribution to world culture. has beautified the garden' of Jain literature. Rahul Sankrityayan, an acclaimed scholar, As I walk among these exquisite flowers, I writes: 'The Jains have played a very always stop in wonder before the buds and important role in the creation and blossoms of the name of Acharya preservation of Apabhramsh literature.' 22 Haribhadra. He was a great fountain of Cultural historians have gone so far as to say knowledge on Jain literature. His works are that the glory of Sanskrit literature would a rare gift to us. He was the first shrivel up if the contribution of the Jains commentator in Sanskrit on the Agamas. were removed. All the paths of Jain culture The many-faceted splendours of the Agamas must be patiently trodden if the lush green like the Avashyak, the Deshvaikalik, the forests of Indian cultural history are to be Nandi, the Anuyogdvar, the Pragyapana and fully explored.
the Jivabhigam exploded with light when
exposed to his laser-like commentary! Acharya Haribhadra: A Blossoming Tradition has it that he wrote 1,444 works of Yoga Literary Works
and, in my view, he is the colossus of the Jain I sometimes feel that it is beyond my literary world. capacity to express fully the span of Jainism's literary works and the accomplishments of They say that folk tales show the true face its creators. After Acharyas Siddhasen and of a culture. Jain fables occupy pride of place Samantbhadra, writers of great calibre came in India's treasure-trove of stories, revealing up thick and fast and kept on adding to my the very soul of the country. Both Eastern
2 Juin-Gaurav-Smritiyan, Shri Mammal Jain Martand, P.448