Works On Anupreksha In Kannada Literature

Author(s): Shubha Chandra
Publisher: Z_Jain_Vidya_evam_Prakrit_014026_HR.pdf

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Works on anuprekṣā in Kannada Literature
Sri Shubha Chandra
जिनधर्मावासमादत्तु अमळ विनयदागारमादत्तु पद्मासननिर्वापद्ममादत्तु अतिविशद यशोधाममादत्तु
विद्याधन जन्मस्थानमादत्तु असमतरळगंभीर सद्गेहमादत्तु एनिसल्के
इंतुळ्ळ नाना महिमेयोळेसे गुं चारु कर्णाटदेशं ॥
This is a Kannada inscription which says about the distinguished qualities of Karnata Country1.
It was an abode of the Jina-Dharma,
It was a mine of pure discipline,
It was the temple of one who is in Padmasana
It was the dwelling place of fame which is exceedingly bright,
It was the birth place of lore and wealth,
It was the worthy house of matchless splendid dignity, Thus distinguished in various glories was the beautiful Karṇāta
country.
According to this inscription the very first greatness of Karnataka is that it was an abode of Jina-Dharma. I think, this single inscription is enough for us to give a clear picture of Jainism in Karnataka. It is quite natural that Jainas wrote in Kannada because Karnataka was the birth place of lore as we know from the above inscription. Jainas contribution to Kannada literature is very rich both in quality and quantity. "The earliest cultivators of Kannada language for literary purpose were Jainas. The oldest works of any extent and value that have come down to us are all from the pen of the Jainas. The period of Jaina predominance in the literary field may justly be called the Augustan Age of Kannada literature. The beauty and the high polish of the Kannada language are almost entirely due to the Jaina authors of an earlier period 1. Epigraphia carnatica, Vol. VIII, Soraba No. 261
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परिसंवाद -४