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

Page 9

Vol. 1-1995
Some Prakrit Works....
We have numerous manuscripts on different other subjects. Here are noted : 1. Cudāmani or Cudāmani-sara-śāstra, containing 75 gathās; not available.
Chāyā dāra deals with interpretation of events by observing shade. It contains two-page manuscript, covering 123 găthās; in Pāšan Jain Bhandār.
Chirka-vicara deals with prediction of events by one's sneezing; manuscript in Patan Jain Bhandär.
4.
Garuda-sattha (Garuda-śästra) deals with the cure of snake-poison.
Jaya-pähuda deals with the science of prognostication; contains 378 gathās.
6.
Nadi-dāra deals with particular artery of human body; Ms. in Patan Jain Bhandar.
Nādi-viyara deals with good or bad events arising out of the movement of right or left artery; MS. in Patan Jain Bhandar.
8.
Nimitta-dāra deals with nimitta; MS. in Patan Jain Bhandar.
Nimitta-pähuda deals with nimitta such as kevali, jyotisa, svapna, etc.
Nimitta-śästra deals with ākāśa, candra, utpāta, varsā-utpata, deva-utpäta-yoga, rāja-utpata-yoga, having good or bad omen arising out of rainbow, the illusory town (appearing in the sky: gāndharva-nagara), occurrence of streak of lightening and a line of clouds. It is composed by Rsiputra, son of acārya Garga. Bhattotpala, the commentator of the Bihatsanhită, has referred to Rsiputra. It contains 187 găthās.
10.
Meghamală deals with future events taking into consideration the movements of constellations and the signs of rains; MS. in Pātan Jain Bhandār.
11.
Panha-vägarana (Praśna-vyākarana) deals with the questions and answers by a deity appearing in a linen cloth, a mirror, a thumb, or an arm. It consists of 450 gâthås. A palm-leaf MS. is catalogued in Patan Jain Bhandār.
Pipiliya-nana (Pipilika-jñāna) predicts the good and bad omen arising out of the movement of ants bearing a particular colour. The MS. containing eight stanzas is available in Patan Jain Bhandār.
13.
Praņasta-lābha predicts profit and loss and life and death; MS. in Patan Jain Bhandar.
Then we have Śakuna-jñāna or Sakuna-vidyā (Sagun in Hindi) or the knowledge of birds or omens or augury, was considered most important in those early days in the absence of scientific knowledge. It was a sort of hymn or song sung at festivals to secure good