Repetition In Jaina Nrative Literature

Author(s): Klaus Bruhn
Publisher: Klaus Bruhn

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KLAUS BRUHN
REPETITION IN JAINA NARRATIVE LITERATURE
§ 1. Introduction 1
By using the word « repetition » in the title of the present paper we do not want to indicate that we are concerned with a well-defined phenomenon. As a consequence, no systematic presentation or classification can be envisaged. We can also not claim to have come across specific repetition phenomena which have not been noticed previously. What we propose to do is this: In order to understand repetition in Jaina narrative literature (mainly but not exclusively narrative repetition) we shall study certain sections of the literary material where repetition is an important element. Our approach is therefore midway between strategies which emphasize the « general » (general theories) and strategies which focus attention on the « particular » (particular pure and simple, particular in the sense of « irregular »).
The paper is specialized in character but not isolated. Several points were discussed with colleagues (B. Bhatt, M. Pfeiffer, C. Tripathi), and the publications mentioned include a few titles which do not belong to the field of Indology (and which are concerned with theory). In one or two cases express acknowledgement has been postponed to a later occasion. We are grateful to the Bharatiya Jñānapītha (Delhi) for their permission to reproduce part of a diagram from Ksu. Jinendra Varni's Jainendra Siddhānta Kosá (fig. 8). C. Schlieker has prepared the typed sheets and helped us in finalizing the English text.
Repetition is found in narrative and non-narrative literature, and as a structural factor it is common to Jaina and Buddhist tradition. But if we compare repetition in Jaina literature with repetition in Buddhist literature, we cannot fail to notice differences in the character
1. For abbreviations refer to $ 21 and to Āy Studies I, pp. 47-9.