________________
264
Review
and commentary literature, compositions on logic, metaphysics, epics, legends and biographies, works on rituals, conduct and eulogy (hymns) aba religious romances. It covers vast and varied literature of the two main sects of the Jainas.
Some important chapters part-wise are as follows;.
(1) Benedictory Formulae, praise of 24 Tirthankars, Spiritual progress,
Devotion to Discipline, Nature of Bondage and Passions, Equa. nimity, Determinate Awareness, Non violence, Meditations, Stages of spiritual evolntion, Duties of a House-holder and Nature of Piety.
(2) Path to liberation, Five kinds of knowledge, Nine principles of
Jainism; Five magnitudes, Non-absolutism, Jain logic, Syādvāda viewpoint and the theory of non-creation by God.
(3) Pillow of Righteousness, Biography of Mahavira, parables of eggs
and Rohini, Ceremonial Bath of Tirthankara, Kapila's discourse, Renouncement by Nami, Legends of Harikeśa and Mrgāputra, True Sacrifice, Abduction of Sitā, story of Valkalacill, Apologue of honey-drops, Combat between Bharata and Bahubali, Poetic descriptions of sunset, night-fall, Riabhadeva's play as a child and Kailāśa mountain, Destruction of Dwārakā, stories of Kara. kandū and Müladeva and origin of sacrifice.
The author has added an introduction of 33 pages, which is a brief survey of Prakrit and Sanskrit (excluding Apabhramsa) literature, composed by both the main Jain sects, which, here under 15 heads, covers almost all the genres of Indian Literature, the religious romance being a new genre. The author eniphasises the point that the Jain literature gives a picture of the real life of the Indian society in all its different phases and thereby going beyond the kings and priests. He points out how rich the Jaina literature is which has not left any aspect of Indian literature untouched.
One who wants to know about the contents of the Jain literature must go through this volume. It is for the first time that such a meticul. ous selection has been brought out. We expect from the Academy English
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
