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FOLK TALES IN MEDIEVAL PRAKRIT LITERATURE
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always ready to sacrifice himself. The Bharatadvatrimsika, another popular work of the Pancatantra type, is a collection of amusing tales. According to the author, the tales have been invented to expose the behaviour of fools and knaves so that the readers can guard themselves against their tricks. According to Hertel, this work seems to have been composed by some Jain author.?
Jains also composed secular independent works of the Pancatantra type. The Katharatnakara of Hemavijaya (1600 A.D.) is composed in Sanskrit prose and is interspread with stories in Maharashtri Prakrit, Apabhramsha, Old Hindi, and Old Gujarati. This work contains sayings from the Bhartrharisataka, the Pancatantra and other non-Jain popular works. The Vinodakathasangraha, also known as kathakosa, by Maladhari Rajasekhara, which has been considerably influenced by the Pancatantra in style and subject matter, incorporates numerous popular stories which gained popularity in the name of Akbar and Birbal.
Jain Prakrit tales have also influenced the medieval Indian literature. The story of the Ramayana has been handed to us through different traditions. The traditions differ even about Sita's banishment. One of the traditions preserved in Jain works is that Rama ordered to banish her after seeing Ravana's painting which was said to be produced by her. The same tradition has been preserved in the folk-songs of Braj dialect. The Mahaviracariya of Gunacandarsuri (11th century A.D.) contains the story of prince Naravikrama, who separated from his wife and children, suffered a good deal and ultimately got united with them. The same story is noticed in several versions of a Gujarati floktale, known as Candanamalayagiri'.Then, the love story of king Ratnasekhara and princess Ratnavati of Simhaladvipa,
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