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CHAPTER X LITERATURE
Bulk of the literature produced by, or under the patronage of, the Jainas in ancient and even medieval times is primarily and essentially religious in character; but that is also true of the literatures of other peoples in India as well as most other parts of the world. It is but natural that Jaina literature should bear the stamp of Jainism which aims at emancipating mankind individually as well as collectively, from the miseries of worldly existence and uplifting everybody spiritually, preaching unequivocally the practice of non-injury to all living beings. The motivating spirit of Jaina literature has thus been spiritual as well as social. The Jainas have all along been a. peace-loving community, and as such they have nurtured tastes and tendencies conducive to the development of art and literature.
In this system greater prestige is attached to the ascetic institution which forms an integral part of the socio-religious organisation, called the Jaina sangha, which is made up of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. The members of the monastic body naturally and necessarily devote a major part of their time to the cultivation of letters, study of the śāstras (holy books), imparting instruction to the seekers, copying manuscripts and writing books. Thus generation after generation of Jaina monks have enriched, according to their training, temperament and taste, the various branches of literature.
