Jinamanjari 1995 09 No 12

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

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Punyasruva Kathakos on Aradhana Karnatatika is a point for further consideration.
Vaddarudhane (1075 A.D.) a collection of 19 stories bears the stamp of Prakrit so much that if Prakrit elements are taken away what remains then is a bare skeleton. Name of the author and the work, date, place and source are all in a Nebulous state. I had the pleasure and previlege of probing deep into these questions in my Ph.D. thesis on the subject which has thrown fresh light on these aspects. This Kannada Kathakosa has borrowed Gahas from Bhagavati Aradhana, Mulacara, Tiloyasara, Paramatma Prakasa, Scricandra's Kathakosa, Jambudivapannatti, Nayacakra, Darsana Pahuda and Pratikarmana Sutra.
Camundaraya, an outstanding personality in Karnataka history, has written some works and Trisasti Laxanapurusa Purana is a significant Kannada prose work (978 A.D.) as it is the first Mahapurna in Kannada. There are about 11 gahas quoted, and the main cause for the erection of monolith Gommatesvara at Sravanabelagola and for Nemicandra's Gommatasara. Nagacandra's (1080 A.D.) Ramachandra Caritapuranam narrates Jain version, Pauma-Cariya of Vimala Suri (3rd century) written in Jaina-Maharastri.
Nemicandra (1180 A.D.), a caturbhasa cakravarti wrote two campukavyas; Lilavari Prabandham and Neminathapuranam, Scholars have noted Prakrit influenced from Lilavai Kavya of Kouhala (800 A.D.) and Sanskrit Vasavadatta of Subandhu (6th A.D.). I would like to focus the attention of scholars to another important reference not mentioned so far. One Jinesvara Suri (1034 A.D.) has written a Prakrit Kavya Lilavati Katha, which may be the direct source to Nemicandra.
In his another Kavya, poet Nemicandra, in a state of ecstacy, out of sheer love and respect for Prakrit literature has given a rare description. Let me quote the very words of the poet: (the situation under reference is that Vasudeva majestically enters the marriage hall.) "Prakrita Kavyadante sahaja sowbhagya bhangi bhavalankarudin alankritanagi svayamvara pantapamam" Vasudeva entered the marriage hall attired with natural grace and like a Prakritakavya.
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