Sambodhi 2001 Vol 24

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, K M Patel
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 21

NAGIN J. SHAH
SAMBODHI
The Jaina monks have contributed much to the development of Gujarati language and literature. They have no partiality, much less fanaticism, in respect of any particular language. To uplift the masses religiously and spiritually is their mission. So, they adopt language, dialect, idioms, etc. of the people among which they move and preach, and thus they enrich the local dialects. They collect tales, anecdotes, etc and adapt them to their mission of preaching virtues. They have cultivated different forms of Gujarati literature since 12th century A.D. We can have only a faint idea of the vast and varied literature they have produced, from Jaina Sahityano Sanksipta Itihasa' and 'Jaina Gurjara Kavio' Vol. 1-4 written by M. D. Desai. Their literary activities cultivated, to a considerable extent, the literary taste in the masses.
The influence of Jainism is apparent in all aspects of the cultural heritage of Gujarat. Humility, generosity, honesty, religiosity, modesty, beevolence, hospitality, tolerance of Gujarati speaking people are largely due to the direct or indirect influence of Jainism. Such is the sober influence which the Jainism and Jainas have and are having on the people of Gujarat. Other religions too have influenced in their own way the Gujarati speaking people. But as we are not concerned with it here and now, we leave it for some other occasion.