Proceedings of the Seminar on Prakrit Studies 1973

Author(s): K R Chandra, Dalsukh Malvania, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 42

1. Vratakatha in old Marathi
Dr. V. P. Joharapurkar, Jabalpur.
Introductory
Study of Jain literature in old Marathi - though very recent1 has revealed the existence of over 150 works of about 60 authors spread over four centuries (circa 1450 to 1850 A. D.). Out of these, 12 authors are known to have written 24 vratakathas. I had the opportunity of editing 12 stories out of these and the present article is based on their study. It may be noted here that these stories are not related to the vratas as known in the earliest phase of Jain literature (Ahimsa, Satya, Etc.), They illustrate the importance of fasts undertaken on some particular days for a number of years.
Texts and Authors: The first vratakatha (which is also the earliest vratakatha in Marathi published so far) edited by me is Ananta Vratakathā of Abhayakirti composed in 1616 A. D.2 Six stories relating to Aditya, Ananta, Puṣpañjali, Nirdosa saptami, Kalasa daśami and Sugandha dasami vratas by Jinasagara (circa 1724 to 1744 A.D.) are included in complete works of Jinasagara edited by me. Five more stories edited by me and published recently under the title Pracina Marathi Katha Pañcaka are: Anantakatha of Cimana Pandita (circa 1650 A.D.), Sugandhadasami Katha of Sabaji (1665 A.D.), Nirdoșa-Saptami Katha of Mahicandra (circa 1662 A.D.), Aditya Katha of Punyasagara (circa 1650 A.D.) and Meghamālā Katha of Laxmicandra (1728 A.D.)
Other Marathi vratakathās known so far are :-Adityakatha of Abhayakirti (1613 A.D.), Rukminikatha of Visalakirti (circa 1670 A.D.), Nandısvara and Garuḍapancami kathas of Mahicandra (circa 1692 A.D.), Jinaratrikatha of Laxmicandra (circa 1728 A. D.), Karmaṣṭamikatha of Soyara (1746 A.D.), Ravivratakatha of Yamāsā (1751 A.D.), Daśalakṣaṇakatha of Anantakirti (1775 A.D.), and Aditya, Dasalakṣana, Ratnatraya and Şoḍaśakarana kathās of Mabatisāgara (1772-1832 A.D.)5
Sources: Mahicandra in his Nirdosa Saptami Katha mentions that he followed Brahma Jinadasa's Rasa Bhāsa (Gujarati) version of a Sanskrit story. This seems to be incorrect as the Sanskrit version known so farthat of Śrutasagara-is slightly later than Jinadāsa's Gujarāti version. Another author-Sabāji-also mentions that his Sugandha-daŝami-Katha is a Marathi rendering of the Rasachanda of Jinadasa.
Excerpts from other Vratakathas quoted by Dr. Akkole show that Mahicandra in his Nandisvarakathā and Anantakīrti in his Dasalakaṣaṇakathā also mention Jinadasa as their source,