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APPENDIX
CONTRIBUTION OF JAINISM TO LITERATURE AND PROGRESS
In literary activity, Jainas have held a prominent position. Their scholars and philosophers have composed voluminous works on philosophy, logic, comparative religion, grammar, prosody, mathematics, lexicography, music, history, biography, astronomy, etc., besides works on their ceremonial and ritualism. Out of the many authors, only a few need be mentioned here. Bhadrabahu Sūri composed Niryuktis on ten works of the Jaina canon, also a work on astronomy. Devarddhi Gani, the Kṣamāśramana, is the redactor of the sacred canon. 980 years after Mahāvīra, the last Arhat, Devarddhi, seeing that all the canonical works were being lost in course of time, caused them to be written down. Before that time the sacred literature was handed down from master to disciple without the help of books. Siddhasena, the Divakara, converted king Vikramaditya to Jainism, and is the author of many philosophical works. Haribhadra, a Brahmin by birth and a convert to Jainism, composed 1,444 Prakaranas (short treatises) on various subjects. Malayagiri is another well-known author. Abhayadeva Süri wrote commentaries on nine principal canonical works. Devendra Sūri wrote works on Karma, etc. Dharmasagara contributed a work on the history and beliefs of heterodox sects. Hemacandra, the wellknown encyclopaedist, brought Prince Kumarapala of Gujarat to Jainism, and is the reputed author of three crore and a half couplets. Yasovijaya wrote many works. Muni Atmārāmaji, who died only four years ago, composed several works in popular style, thus bringing home the Jaina philosophy to the masses.
In the literary world of India Jainas justly claim the credit of accurate recording of history. Accurate chronicling of events and
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