Some Prakrit Works on Non Religious Literature

Author(s): Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf

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Jagadish Chandra Jain Nirgrantha fortune. Sakuna-sukta or the bird-hymn is mentioned. Sakuna-ruta-jnana or the knowledge of notes of birds was considered very important. It was known as totemism which would unite the tribal people in a sympathetic relation with nature. Siva is known as Pasupati or lord of animals. Nandi is associated with Pasupati, Garuda with Visnu, Hamsa with Sarasvati and Musaka with Ganesa. This affinity was so strong that the species of animals and birds were associated with superstitious beliefs or auspicious or inauspicious omens by local tribal people. According to Indian tradition, the omenology has been handed over right from Indra, Brhaspati, Sukra, and renowned sages like Parasara, Garga, and Bharadvaja. According to the author of the Brhatsamhita, King Dravyavardhana, the ruler of Ujjayani (A. D.495-515) wrote a treatise on the subject. The author of the Brhatsanihita has devoted several chapters related with the topic. They are : sakunam, Antara-cakram, Virutam, sva-cakram, siva-rutam, Mrga-cestitam, Gavergitam, Asvengitam, Hasti-cestitam, Vayasavirutam and Sakunottaram. In the course of his commentary, Bhatotpala has cited Bhagavan Garga, Rsiputra, and Parasara. Parasara has dealt with seasons and their effects on the sexual instincts of animals. Dealing with the chapter on dogs the commentator las cited references from Parasara and Garga. He cites 32 verses from Aksara-kosa of Yavanesvara. Various other works on sakuna-sastra are mentioned. The Grhagodha-vicara and the Kykalasa-vicara are referred to in the catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Mss.,Pt.III, p.960 (compiled by Muniraja Sri Punyavijaya, Ahmedabad 1969). Svarodaya-prakarana, a work of Sakuna-sastra, was composed at Anahillapura during the reign of Ajayapala of Gujarat. In the city of Dhara, there lived a Brahmana Ainradeva by name. His son Narapati was efficient in mantra and tantra and possessed the knowledge of Cudamani. Tliis treatise was composed by him. It has several commentaries*. * The present write up is partly based on author's 'Secular Literature', chapter nine of his forthcoming book, History and Development of Prakrit Literature,