________________
SOME PRE-ELEVENTH CENTURY PRAKRIT AND APABHRAMSA
TEXTS RELATING TO
THE CHILDHOOD EXPLOITS OF KRSNA*
HC. Bhayani
Originally this paper was planned to contain two sections : the first section to give infor nation about a few little known Prakrit and Apabhrasa tex's relating to the early life of Krsna in Gokula, Vrodāvana and Mathurā and especially those dealing with the love-sports of Krsna with Rādbā and the other cowherd girls, The second section was to touch upon the regional aspect of the Krsna-literature aod Krşņa-bhakti prior to the eleventh century. As it was however felt that in that case the paper would be unreasonably lengthy, the present attempt is confined to the first of the two above-mentioned themes.
The tradition of presenting and representing Krsna's childhood in literature and art extends over more than two thousand years. So it is bound to have numerous variations of epis: Jes, individual details and motifs. These variations tie up with chronology, religious sect and region. The importance of the Krsna literature of different periods for interpreting some of the aspects of the art of those periods depicting Krsna's life is self-evident S) far mostly the Sanskrit and Hindu sources have been explored for this purpose. The Prakrit. Apabhraṁsa and Jaina sources remain neglected for the most part. No doubt some specialized work on the Jaio Krsna-katha has been done by a few scholars. But this, as also come relevant Prakrit and Apabhramsa works remain more or less inaccessible to the students of the history of Indian Art.
The great in act of Jayadeva's Gitagovinda (12th Cent. A.D.) on the qubzaleat art an iteratur i3 well-known. Lilāśuka Bilyamangala
* This paper was read at the National Seminar on 'The Impact of Vaishnavism on the Indian Arts' held from 28th November to 2nd December 1983 under the auspices of the Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University of Baroda. The author thanks the Director of the Seminar for granting permission to publish the paper. Sambodhi XI-16
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
