Jinamanjari 1995 09 No 12

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 42

A critico-historical study of Kannada literature beginning with early proto Kannada and its later Kavyas prove the influence of Prakrit in it. It is observed that without Jain Literature it looses its sole.
Both Prakrit and Kannada flourished in a friendly atmosphere under similar circumstances. Prakrit iniluence started moderately in the last centuries of B.C. and assumed a massive magnitude by 4th A.D. The earliest 6 Asokan inscriptions, and later six edicts of 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. are all in Prakrit, and first Kannada inscription is dated 450 A.D., before which there were a dozen Prakrit edicts, several centuries.
Satavahanas, the earliest to rule Karnataka, had Prakrit as their administrative language and it is said that the language of the palace was Prakrit. Halaraja, Satavahana compiled his famous work Gahasatta-sai (3rd century A.D.) in which he described Prakrit language as a nectar - amlam pana Kavvam. Later Gangas, who succeeded Satavahanas, also encouraged Prakrit by which lime it had its roots deep in the soil of Karnataka.
Though the Tirthankars have hailed from the North, most of the acaryas are from the south and particularly Karnataka. These preceptors bridged the gulf between north and south using Prakrit as a link language. Sivkoti, Vattakera, Bhutabali, Puspadanta, Virasena, Dharasena, Jinasena, Boppadeva, Pujyapada, Samanta Bhadra, Nemicandra and other preceptors are respectfully remembered in the pontiffical geneology of Jaina Order. Dhavala, Jayadhavala and Mahadhavalu ultimately assumed the present form in Karnataka
A mixture of Prakrit and Sanskrit is found in Curni texts. Ex: Jinadasa Mahattara (676 A.D.) has employed such a style in his Nandi Curni. Such a style also evolved in Karnataka in the early centuries, mixing Kannada instead of Sanskrit with Prakrit. Timbaluracarya (4th century) wrote a Kannada commentary Cudamani Ubhayasiddanta and a Pancika, a total of 91 thousand verses (87 + 7). One more Srivardhadeva (4 A.D.) wrote Cudamani, a work of 96 thousand verses. Another Acarya Samakunda (4th century) also wrote a
40