________________
Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
129
native language. In the course of such instructional activities, they no doubt enriched the Kannada language by lending several requisite. Prakrit words and phrases such as dhamma, savana, risi, varisa, etc, which later on were absorbed in the language in the same Prakrit form." Perhaps with this linguistic process, among other things, in view, Nāgavarma I (900 A.D.) had said in his Chandomhudhi (w.1-21) that Kannada along with other regional languages, was formed of three and a half languages : Sanskrit, Prakril, Apabhramsa and Paisacī.!
After cultivating the Kannada language to a certain extent, the Jaina teachers then applied themselves to composing literary works and thus, laid the foundation of literary Kannada and gradually built a magnificnent structure on it. Though the early line of origin and growth of Kannada literature is not traceable, there are found references to a number of Jaina authors and works prior to the 9th century A.D. It is interesting to note that the first available Kannada work on poetics, the first one on prosody: the first one on grammar, the first classic in prose10 and similarly the first one in poetry" are all by Jaina scholars.
As a result, the carly period of Kannada literature, from the 9th to the 12th century A.D., came to be known as the Jaina period, though Jaina authors flourished in later periods too. The late Mahāmahopadhyāya R. Narasimhacariar called this period “The Augustan Age of Kannada Literature”. Like the Jaina antiquities, several Jaina literary works reflect the hold and affluence of Jainism in Karnataka. The Three great poets, Pampa, Ponna and Ranna are known as the 'Ratnatraya' in Kannada literature. Cāmundarāya, one of the greatest generals Karnataka had ever produced, who got erected the world famous monolithic statue of Bahubali, is also the author of the Trisasti Laksana Mahapurana and commentator of the Gommatasara of Acarya Nemicandra.
Now it needs no elaboration of the fact that the major portion of the Jaina Kannada literature is avowedly religious wherein are embedded the principle tenets of Jainism like Ahimsā.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
