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Paumacariya of Vimalasuri, Caupannamahāpurisa-Cariya of Silārkācārya etc. 93
There are numerous Cāritras in Prākrta which describe the life of individual Tīrthankaras such as Rşabha, śāntinātha, Neminātha, Pārśva and Mahāvīra. Jainas own abundant narrative literature in Prāksta. Vasudeva-Hindi of Samghadāsagani, Samarāicca-kahā of Haribhadra, Kuvalayamāla of Uddyotanasūri and many Kathā-Kośas have been composed by the Jainas.94 All this shows that Jainas have to their credit voluminous Prākrta literature, but unfortunately the study of Prāksta language has practically disappeared from India. What will be its consequence is a matter of great concern for the custodians of Indian culture.
Apart from the vast Prāksta literature Jaina authors adopted various languages such as Apabhraíía, Kannada and Tamil for their compositions. "The credit of inaugurating an Augustan age in the Apabhramsa, Tamil and Kannada literature unquestionably goes to the Jainas."95
Apabhraíśa which enjoyed the credit of being the national language of Northern India for a very long time has been nourished by Jaina authors. From the 6th Cent. A.D. to 15th Cent. A.D. the cultivators of Apabhraṁsa language were Jainas. % Svayambhū (8th Cent. A.D.) Puspadanta (10th Cent. A.D.), Dhanapāla (10th Cent. A.D.) Vīra (11th Cent. A.D.) Nayanandi (11th Cent. A.D.), Kanakāmara (11th Cent. A.D.), Hemacandra (12th Cent. A.D.) Harideva (15th Cent. A.D.), Raidhu (15th cent A.D.) etc. 97 are the immortal literary figures of India. Joindu, Muni Rāmasimgha, Devasena etc. are the prominent ethico-spiritual writers who have been recognised as the precursors of Kabīr, Tulasī and other mystic poet-saints of India.98 It will not be amiss to point out that the national language, Hindi owes a great deal to
Spiritual Awakening (Samyagdarśana) and Other Essays
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