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IMPACT OF RĀMĀYAŅA ON JAIN LITERATURE
always before their mind's eye and they found its influence almost irresistible.
Addendum : Dr. H. C. Bhayani concludes his paper "The Prakrit and Apabhramśa Rāmāyanas" with these observations : "If a legend or narrative has to preserve its living and inspiring appeal and influence over centuries, it has got to be dynamic and responsive to the changes in the ideals, tastes, norms of behaviour, mores (? morals) and traditions of the people. Most of the numerous significant developments in the Rāma narrative throughout the more than two thousand years of its existence would find adequate explanation in the sociological, religious, cultural and ethical changes extending over that period."5
What Dr. Bhayani says is largely true.
Notes and References :
1. Pc. II w 105-117; 2. Pc. VI. v 74-to-78, as translated in Winternitz's History of Indian Literature, Vol II. p.
490 3. Pc. V.v. 257. 4. Pc. VII. v. 96-97. 5. (Indological Studies-H. C. Bhayani, publ. by Parshva Prakashan, Ahmedabad
380001, 1993, p. 194.)
DOO
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