________________
316
Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
Knowledge was passed from tongue lo tongue and from generation to generation. But later owing to the diminished power of memorizing on the part of the monks, hardships of nature and growth of knowledge, books were allowed to be composed and possessed. A little earlier than this practice was set into routine, there must have apprcared several Prakrit inscriptions on the model of Ashokan edicts found in the different parts of Karnatak. Now a comprehensive and historical study of the available early Prakrit inscriptions of Karnatak such as found in Vadgaum, Banavāsi, Malavalli, Candravalli etc., together with those recently found ones al Sannatti and Belavadgil', is a desideratum. And there is no wonder if such study showed features of the Jaina Sauraseni literature of the dogmatical and religious works.
After considering inscriptional form of literature, I enumerate below the literary works, with their authors wherever available, of dogmatical, religious and cosmographical nature composed in the Jaina Śauraseni Prakrit (JS):
Ācārya Kundakunda (c. 1st cent. A.D.) who undoubtedly belonged to Karnatak, composed almost all of his works in the JS: They are Samayasāra, Pavayanasāra, Pamcatthikaya, Niyamasāra, Rayanasāra, Chappahuda, Dasabhatti and Bārasānuvekkhā. He is also said to have written a commentary called Parikamma on the basic sūtras of the Satkhandāgama. This Commentary, which is not available must have been in the J'Ś.
Then comes Vattakera (c. 1st cent. A.D.) with his Mulacara and Trivarnacara which is not available. Some scholars say Vattakera is another neme of Kundakunda; but there is no proof for this. Pt.Premi associates the name of Vattakera with the modern Betgeri in the Dharwad District of Karnatak."
Sivārya (1st-2nd A.D.), who has composed his great Mülaradhanā or Bhagavati Aradhanā, is said to have belonged to Karnatak by Dr.Umarji who, unfortunately has identified his
(Sivarya) with the author of the Kannada Vaddaradhane (c. 925 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
