Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF PRAKRIT JAIN NARRATIVE LITERATURE
The Vinodakathasangraha of Maladhāri Rājasekhara has been influenced by Pañcatantra in style and subject matter, comprising delightful stories which later on gained popularity in the name of Akabar and Birbal. The Uttamacaritakathanaka or "The Story of the Life of (Prince) Most Excellent" by an unknown author is a fairy-tale full of most wonderful adventures. The Pala-Gopala kathanaka by Jinak irti (15th century A.D.) comprises a story of two brothers who go on their wanderings and after many adventures attain honour and fame.xx The Aghatakumarakatha by an anonymos author is a story of prince Aghața which is based on the fairytale of the lucky child and the fatal letter which has been exchanged.xx The Campakasreṣṭhi-kathanaka, another work by Jinakirti, comprises the story of the merchant Campaka Several stories are inserted in the main story. In the last sub-story, a merchant who had hitherto deceived everyone, was deceived by a courtesan.3 The Ratnacuda-katha by Jñanasagara Suri (middle of the second half of the 15th century) is a story of Ratnacuda, containing the witty and entertaining story of the city of rogues where the king "Unjust" rules, the prime minister is "Unwise", the priest is "Restless" and in which only thieves and cheats reside. There are several inserted stories in the main frame-work of the narrative. In one story, the prostute mother narrates four, excellent stories. Then there is story of clever Rohaka which can be compared with Mahosadha Pandita story of the Maha-Ummagga-Jataka.
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7. The present Jain narrative literature has influenced the literature of Indian mediaeval period. The love story of king Ratnasekhara of Ratnapura and the princess Ratnavati of Simhaladvipa narrated in the Rayanaseharikatha of Jinaharṣagani ( 15th century A.D.), for example, has influenced the story of the Padmavata of Malik Muhammad Jaysï.4 In Jain tradition, one of Sita's co wives requested her to draw a painting of Ravana. After she did it, the same was shown to Rama which caused her banishment. This tradition has been preserved in the folksongs of Braj dialect. Mahaviracariya of Guṇacandrasuri (11th century A.D.) contains the story of prince Naravikrama, who separated fron his wife and children, undergoes hardships and ultimately is united with them. This story is noticed in several versions of a Gujarati folk-tale,
Pearls) with an attractive jacket in colour in Devanagari script has been published in the German Democratic Republic (1979) 3. xx These stories are included in "Der Prinz als Papagei" (The Prince as a Parrot) published in the German Democratic Republic (Berlin, 1975) whith an introduction by Roland Beer.
4. See the author's Prakrit sahitya ka Itithasa (PSI) 482ff
The
5. For Jain tradition, see Upadesapada, PSI 496-97 and footnote. story is also recorded in the Kahavalt of Bhadresvara, Jain Sahitya ka Brihad Itihasa (JSBI), VI, 70.
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