Treasury of Jain Tales

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

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form of MSS. in Jain bhāndāras. Most of them are noted in the Jinaratnakosa. A few of these katha-kosas may be noticed here: A Kathakosa (Treasury of Stories) collected by an unknown compiler is a veritable mine of tales, some of which also belong to universal literature. The language of the tales is bad Sanskrit with verses in Prakrit. Everywhere there is a strong Jinistic tendency. For example, a sea-faring story full of wonderful adventures is transformed into a Jain legend. The last story in the Kathākosa is a curious Jain adaptation of the Nala-episode of the Mahābhārata. Harisena's (Brhat) Kathākosa (931-32 A.D.) presents a series of tales which illustrate the allusions found in the Bhagavati - Aradhanā. The text contains over 150 stories in Sanskrit. The chief object of most of these tales is to glorify Jainism and impress on the minds of the readers the greatness of Jainism and thus propagate in the society the religio-moral ideals upheld by Jainism. Devabhadra composed his Kathākosa (Kathāratnakoša) in 1101 A.D. Religious and ethical instruction through stories is the main purpose of this composition. Subhasila wrote his Pañcasati - prabodha-sambandha "Book of 500 stories serving to awaken the Faith" in 1464 A.D. In spite of the title the work contains near by 600 stories, anecdotes, legends, fables, fairy-tales etc., some of which allude to historical personages, kings and authors of both ancient and modern times, such as Nanda, Satavāhana, Bhartrhari, Bhoja, Kumārapāla Hemasűri and others. Devendra composed his Kathảmanikosa (Akhyānamanikosa) in Prakrit verses (latter half of the 11th century A.D.). Jinesvara composed his Kathanaka-kosa in the second quarter of the 11th century. Somacandra composed his Kathă-mahodadhi, "The great ocean of stories" in 1448 A.D. Rajasekhara wrote his Antarakathā-samgraha "Collection of various narratives" in the 14th century. The stories are written in simple Sanskrit prose, quite in a conversational style, the expression being often contaminated with vernacularisms. In many cases, the style, format and contents remind us of the Pañcatantra. Some of the stories are primarily