Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

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canonical literature, the Jainas have traversed different departments of human culture. In the language of Winternitz, let me say :
"The Jainas have extended their activities beyond the sphere of their own religious literature to a far greater extend than the Buddhists have done, and they have memorable achievements in the secular sciences to their credit, in philosophy, grammar, lexicography, poetics, mathematics, astronomy and astrology, and even in the science of politics. In one way or other there is always some connection even of these "profance" works with religion. In Southern India the Jainas have also rendered services in developing the Dravidian languages, Tamil and Telugu, and especially the Kanarese literary language. They have, besides, written a considerable amount in Gujarati, Hindi and Marwari. Thus we see that they occupy no mean position in the history of Indian literature and Indian thought." (History of Indian Literature, Vol. II, 1933, pp. 594-595),
"It is to be noted at the same time that the contributions of the Jains to the literary circle of India is superb and unique. "There is scarcely any province of Indian literature in which the Jainas have not been able to hold their own. Above all, they have developed a voluminous narrative literature, they have written epics and novels, they have composed dramas and hymns; sometimes they have written in the simple language of the people, at other times they have competed, in highly elaborate poems, with the best masters of ornate court poetry, and they have also produced important works of scholarship." (History of Indian Literature, Vol. II, 1933, p. 483).
While coming to the theme of the present Seminar, it is my pleasant duty to announce before this learned assembly the contributions of the Jainas to the domain of narrative literature. It is bewildering to think that the achievements made by the Jainas to the vast amount of popular tales is not only excellent, but also unique of its kind. In the words of Winternitz again, let me say :
"The Jaina monks and authors have always been tellers of tales far rather than historians. We have already seen that the commentaries to the sacred texts contain not only