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238: JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
Vilas Sangave has written: "Perhaps, the most creditable contribution of Jains is in the field of languages and literature". Effectively the works of Jains on grammar, geography, astronomy, medicine, mathematics, policy, etc. are countless. We have a Jain Purāņa dealing with various matters like biographies of the 24 Tīrthankaras, of the 12 "Cakravartins “and of 27 other ancient and mythical heroes. There are several Jain “kathā”, tales in prose about adventures bold by heroes, “prabandha", selections of stories, treatises on grammar, ethics and poetry, poems called “kāvya" and "mahākāvya”. We can add many more texts in prose like popular narrations, myths, legends and fables. All of them insist on “saṁsāra”, “ahimsā”, compassion, peace, etc.
Among their main authors may be cited: Umāsvāti, Kundakunda, Puspadanta, Bhūtabali, Virasena, Jinasena, Vattakera, Kārtikeya, Siddhasena Divākara, Samantabhadra, Akalanka, Haribhadra, Vidyānanda, Nemicandra, Hemacandra, Prabhācandra, Āsādhara, Yasovijaya, Pūjyapāda, Guņabhadra, Amrtacandra, Jayadeva, Raviseņa, Harişeņa, Pandit Todarmal and many, many others for more recent periods like: Srimad Rājacandra, Rājendra Sūri, Jinendra Varņi etc.
We must not forget the numerous precious Jain manuscripts, with beautiful painted illuminations that for centuries have been made by Ācārya and very learned ascetics. Jains were also exceptional copyists who have conveyed very interesting non-Jain literary works to posterity.
5) On art and architecture
If there is a domain in which Jains identify themselves it is without any doubt in art and architecture. They can take credit, in India, for a lot of extraordinary masterpieces in architecture, sculpture and paintings. These works are for them the demonstration of their love
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