Brief Survey Of Jaina Prakrit And Sanskrit Literature Part 4

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on the 16th century as requested in the book title. The summary is organized to highlight the key aspects of the text.

Book: Brief Survey of Jaina Prakrit and Sanskrit Literature Part 4 Author: Nalini Joshi Publisher: Sanmati Tirth Prakashan Pune

This document provides a century-wise survey of Jaina literature, with a specific focus on the 16th century. It details the writers, their works, and the subjects or forms of these works. The survey also includes observations and concluding remarks on the trends and characteristics of Jaina literature across different centuries, with particular emphasis on the 16th century.

Jaina Literature of the 16th Century:

The 16th century is characterized by the following:

• Dominance of Sanskrit Literature: The vast majority of Jaina literary output in this period was in Sanskrit.
• Absence of JŚ. Works: There are no works categorized as JŚ. (Jaina Shauraseni) from the 16th century.
• Limited JM. Works: Works in JM. (Jaina Maharashtri) are very few. While they cover various subjects, they are noted for a lack of originality and noteworthiness.
• Apabhramsa Literature: Apabhramsa literature of this century is predominantly biographical. The use of the 'Dohā' meter, which began around the 10th century, continued with authors like Mahacanda presenting his 'Dohāpāhuda'.
• Svetambara and Digambara Contributions: Both Svetambara and Digambara traditions produced ample Sanskrit works across a remarkable variety of subjects.
• Decline of Prakrit Works: The decline in Prakrit works is natural as Jaina authors began writing in modern Indian regional dialects, including Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Jaina and non-Jaina literary streams became prominent in these regional languages.
• Prominent Sanskrit Authors: Key Sanskrit authors of this century include Kanakakusalagani and Padmasagaragani (both Svetambara) and Subhacandra (Digambara).
• Focus on Jaina Subjects: Unlike previous centuries, Jaina authors in the 16th century largely focused on subjects directly related to Jainism, with very few secular classical Sanskrit works or works on poetics and metrics.
• Noteworthy Karma Literature: The literature on Karma is significant, with Vijayavimalagani writing on this subject in Jaina Maharashtri and also in Sanskrit. Prabhacandra and Srīpālasuta wrote commentaries on the Pañcasangraha.
• Popularity of Carita Form: Biographies (Caritas) gained popularity, with authors moving beyond the traditional 63 Salākāpuruṣas to focus on unique personalities like Kūrmāputra, Srīpāla, Uttamakumāra, Vimalamantri, Rāyamalla, Campakaśreṣṭī, Sthūlabhadra, Jambūsvāmi, Sāmbapradyumna, Satī Candanā, and Jīvandhara. The popularity of Yaśodhara's story continued through Padmasagaragani's work.
• Narrative Literature: Narrative literature includes works like 'Samyaktvakaumudi' (with multiple works having the same title) and various other narrative collections.
• Canonical Commentaries: The tradition of commenting on canonical texts continued. Dharmasagara, Lakṣmivallabha, and Śāntisāgara wrote commentaries on Paryuṣaṇākalpa, suggesting its custom of recitation during Paryusana. Vānararṣi and Vijayavimala commented on Gacchāyāra and Tandulaveyāliya. Study of Uttarādhyayana continued with a new commentary by Lakṣmivallabha, and Padmasagaragani presented narratives related to it in Sanskrit. Ajitadevasūri commented on Ācārānga, and Harsakulagani on Sūyagada. Subhacandra wrote a Sanskrit commentary on Kārtikeyānuprekṣā.
• Stotra Commentaries: Kanakakusalagani wrote commentaries on the Bhaktāmara and Kalyāṇamandira stotras, likely due to their growing importance in daily religious practice.
• Vratakathās: Vratakathās (narratives of vows) were written by both Svetambara and Digambara authors, indicating the observance of vows and rituals by householders, similar to their Hindu counterparts.
• Ayurveda and Rituals: The work 'Jagatsundarī Prayoga Mālā' included rituals concerning mystical yantras alongside its Ayurvedic content.
• Spiritual Philosophy: Digambara authors like Ratnasūri and Pandit Rāyamalla contributed works on spiritual philosophy.
• Historical Accounts: Jinapala Upadhyaya likely wrote historical accounts of the Kharatara Gaccha, reflecting its literary activity since the 11th century.
• Limited Contribution to Nyāya: The contribution to the field of logic (Nyāya) was meager in this century.
• Satirical Works: Padmasāgara and Saubhāgyasāgara both presented satirical works titled 'Dharmaparīkṣā' on the same subject.
• Overall Trend: Svetambara Gani and Upadhyaya were highly active, producing new canonical commentaries. Subhacandra and Pandit Rāyamalla were prominent among Digambara authors. New rites and rituals became integrated into the conduct of Jaina householders.

General Observations and Concluding Remarks (Across Centuries, Highlighting 16th Century Relevance):

• Language Adaptability: Jainas demonstrated remarkable flexibility in adapting to various languages, from Prakrits to Sanskrit and all modern Indian regional languages, applying their principles of Anekāntavāda to their literary expressions.
• Prakrit Dialects: The text details the evolution and usage of Ardhamāgadhi, Jaina Sauraseni, and Jaina Maharashtri, noting the extensive literature in Jaina Maharashtri by Svetambaras.
• Apabhramsa: Jaina authors contributed significantly to Apabhramsa literature, which was predominantly biographical and in verse. The 15th century marked a peak for Apabhramsa literature, followed by a decline with the rise of modern Indian languages.
• Sanskrit's Rise: Sanskrit became a major language for Jaina literature around the 4th-5th century AD, with authors like Umāsvāti pioneering philosophical works. The number of Sanskrit works is substantial, covering all important subjects and literary forms.
• Jaina Logic: Jainas entered the field of logic in Sanskrit, with Upadhyaya Yasovijaya of the 18th century being the last major Jaina logician who significantly influenced Navya Nyāya. The 16th century saw a limited contribution to this field.
• Commentarial Expertise: A significant portion of Jaina literature is commentarial, with authors producing commentaries on both Jaina and non-Jaina works, demonstrating a unique skill developed through their travels and Anekāntavāda principles.
• Repetitive and Imitative Works: While acknowledging the scholarly depth of Jaina authors, the survey notes a tendency towards repetitive and imitative works, particularly in biography and poetry, suggesting a less original genius compared to earlier periods.
• Linguistic Importance of Prakrit: Prakrit literature is crucial from a linguistic standpoint, providing valuable data for understanding Middle Indo-Aryan languages and their evolution into modern Indian languages.
• Historical Insights: Jaina literature provides valuable historical data, offering glimpses into ruling dynasties and even Mughal history, and aiding in the dating of texts like the Bhagavata and Mahabharata.
• Brahmins' Contribution: Brahmins played a significant role in Jaina literature, especially in Sanskrit works from the 11th to 15th centuries, bringing new literary forms and influencing religious rites.
• Tattvārtha: The text highlights Tattvārtha as a seminal work, encapsulating Jainism's philosophical tenets, cosmology, ethics, and spiritual practices.
• Vocabulary Enrichment: Jaina Sanskrit literature enriched the Sanskrit vocabulary with hybrid terms derived from Prakrit.
• Cultural Understanding: Jaina Maharashtri story literature offers rich insights into contemporary Indian culture, detailing societal norms, festivals, and rituals.
• Absence of Female Writers: A notable observation is the absence of female writers in Jaina literature throughout its 25-century history, attributed to the patriarchal nature of Indian society.

In summary, the 16th century marks a period of transition and consolidation in Jaina literature, with Sanskrit taking center stage and authors focusing on Jaina philosophical and ethical themes, while also adapting to emerging regional languages. The survey emphasizes the shift from Prakrit to Sanskrit and then to regional languages, reflecting the dynamic nature of Jaina intellectual and literary traditions.