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Ranna, Guṇavarma Nāgacandra, Nayasena, Nagavarma, Aggala, Nemicandra, Janna and Madhura, authors whose works are admired as excellent specimens of poetic composition. "Besides Kävyas written by Jaina authors we have numerous works by them dealing with subjects such as grammar, medicine, veterinary science, cookery and so forth. Altogether the number of Jaina authors in Kannada is nearly two hundred."
"107
In addition to the Prākṛta, Apabhraṁśa, Kannaḍa and Tamil literature Jainas started writing in Samskṛta also as early as 1st cent. A.D. The Tattvārthasūtra of Umāsvāti is the compendium of Jainism in Samskṛta. Pujyapāda (5th cent A.D.) and Akalanka (8th cent. A.D.) wrote commentaries on it. Works on Jaina logic have been written from 2nd cent to 15th Cent. A.D. Some of the great logicians are Siddhasena, Samantabhadra, Akalanka, Vidyānandi, Haribhadra, Māņikyanandi, Hemacandra, Prabhācandra, Vādidevasūri, Malliṣena, Vimaladāsa and Yasovijaya. Samskṛta literature has also been enriched by Jaina Purāņas, Mahākāvyas, devotional literature, grammar, Campukāvyas and large ninber of ethico-spiritual works. Besides, Jaina scholars wrote treatises on politics, mathematics, lexicon, poetics, medicine, astronomy, geography and astrology. Jainas recognized the genius of Kālidāsa, so much so that the Jaina writer Mallinatha wrote commentaries on the works of Kalidasa and thus paid homage to this great luminary of Samskṛta literature. 109
In conclusion we may say that in the field of sociospiritual values, logico-metaphysical pronouncements, diverse Indian languages and meaningful artistic, scientific and secular consciousness, Jainism has enormously contributed to Indian Culture.
Spiritual Awakening (Samyagdarśana) and Other Essays
Jain Education International
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