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Jaina Version of Mahābhārata
Prof. Bhagchandra Jain "Bhaskar"*
The Mahābhārata legend like the Rāmāyaṇa has been constantly an inspiring instinct for Indian writers since a long. Its main characters are said to be celestial beings. Lord Krşņa, probably non-vedic deity, is the prominent character around which all the characters are roaming. The whole folklore then becomes very impressive, supernatural and divine. Jainācāryas used it in their own ways with somewhat progressive attitude for spreading the Jaina principles. They adopted the Vedic version of the Mahābhārata in their literature with some changes according to their needs. They made the whole story rather more logical and practical.
The present paper is confined to Jaina literature written in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Hindi languages. It will throw a light on certain points which differ Jaina version with that of Vedic version of Mahābhārat.
Jain Literatue on Mahābhārata
The earliest reference to the Mahābhārata story is found in the Sthāņănga, Nāyādhammakahānga, AntakȚddaśānga, Praśnavyākaraṇa, Uttarādhyayana, and Niryāvalikā. Amongst non-Āgamic Prakrit Texts, the following may be mentioned: Vasudevahindi of Sanghadāsagani, Cauppannamahā-purisacariya of Śīlānka and Amarakavi, Bhvabhāvanā of Hemacandrasūri, Upadesamālā of Hemacandrasūri, Kumārapalapadiboha of Suraprabhasūri, Kanhacariya of Devendrasūri, and some Kathākośas like Kathakośaprakarana, Kathāratnakośa and Akhyānakamaņikośa.
The works in Sanskrit on the story are found as Pradyumnacarita of Mahāsenasūri, Neminirmāņa Kāvya of Vāgbhat 1, Naranārāyaņā
*
Director, Parshwanath Vidyapeeth, Karaundi, Varanasi-5.
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