Jains Today in World

Author(s): Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 97

64 JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
4. Other texts
In addition to their "canons" and "commentaries", Jain authors of the two sections have written a vast quantity of literature. Their works are in Sanskrit, in other Indian languages like "Apabhramsa" or various other "Prakrits", and more recently in English. We find prose and verses on a multitude of legends, stories, tales, biographies, epic poems, novels, romances, treatises on logic, cosmology, medicine, religious hymns (stava or stotra), books on grammar and prosody, as well as innumerable doctrinal writings.
Other than canonical works, may be cited a Jain Mahābhārata in 25 cantos by Subhacandra (XVIth century) and also several Jain Rāmāyaṇa by different authors like Vimala, Ravisena, Guṇabhadra and Hemacandra. Mention also a number of biographies of the Tirthankara, numerous philosophical treatises, a Digambara ritual for ascetics entitled Dharmamṛta by Asadhara, poems by Pampa, Poona, Ranna, a Yogaśāstra by Hemacandra, an Aptamīmāṁsā by Samantabhadra, a Padmapurāna by Ravisena, a Mūlācāra by Vaṭṭakera, etc. The abundance of texts shows the immensity of knowledge and erudition of the Jains.
Many of these writings are not known yet by the Western world and only a small number has been translated. Mention among some English versions, in addition to those already cited: the Pravacanasara and the Samayasära by Kundakunda. There is also a recent French translation of Yogindu's Paramātmaprakāśa (Light of Absolute) by Mrs Nalini Balbir and Late Mrs. Colette Caillat published in 1999 by "Payot et Rivages" in Paris.
Jains have collected their manuscripts very early. Some of their libraries (bhaṇḍāra), like those in Jaisalmer, Patan, Mudabidri and Karanja in India possess many of them. Jain organisations like the "L. D. Institute of Indology", Ahmedabad; "Parshwanath Vidyapeeth" (formerly known as P.V. Research Institute)" Varanasi, "Prakrit