Contribution Of Karnataka To Jain Literature And Culture

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text, "The Contribution of Karnataka to Jaina Literature and Culture" by K. Krishnamoorthy:

The article argues that the substantial contributions of Jains to Indian literature and culture have often been neglected by early historians. While Jainism's spiritual origins are in the North, its historical patronage and literary development flourished significantly in Karnataka for over eight centuries (400-1200 AD). This period saw the creation of literature in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa, and Old Kannada, reflecting a rich cultural synthesis.

The author highlights several prominent Jaina Ācāryas and their works, emphasizing their impact:

• Samantabhadra (5th Century AD): Credited with works like Apta-mimamsa, he is considered a pivotal figure in establishing the Digambara tradition in Karnataka. His influence was particularly strong around Kanchi.

• Pujyapada (Devanandin) (c. 450-500 AD): A religious preceptor to Ganga kings, he systematized Jaina philosophy with his commentary Sarvarthasiddhi on Umasvati's Tattvarthadhigama-sutra. He is also renowned for the Jainendra Vyakarana, a comprehensive Sanskrit grammar, and a lost gloss on Panini's grammar called Sabdavatara. His multifaceted contributions extended to medicine.

• Anuyogadvara-sutta (c. 300 AD): This Jaina canonical text in Ardhamagadhi is noted for possibly being the first to enumerate "Prasanta" (tranquility) as a Kavya-rasa (poetic sentiment), suggesting an influence on Bharata's Natyasastra inclusion of Shanta Rasa.

• Ravikirti (c. 634 AD): A court poet of the Chalukya king Pulakesin II, he is celebrated for his ornate eulogy (Prashastikavya) at Aihole, demonstrating a mastery of Sanskrit ornate poetry akin to Kalidasa and Bharavi. He also built a Jina temple and may have authored the lost Karnatesvara-katha.

• Ravisena (contemporary period): Author of the Padmacarita (Jaina Ramayana) in Sanskrit, a significant work based on Vimalasuri's Prakrit Paumacaria. This Jaina version of the Ramayana became a model for later works.

• Jatasimhanandin: His Varangacarita is a religious and didactic epic in the mahakavya style, serving as a model for later carita-kavyas (poems about religious heroes).

• Akalanka (c. 642-681 AD): A great Ācārya likely patronized by the Chalukyas of Badami, Akalanka is credited with significant works on Jaina logic and epistemology, such as Tattvartha-raja-varttika and Pramana-sangraha. He is known to have debated and refuted Buddhist logicians like Dinnaga. Epigraphs attest to his intellectual prowess and his victory in scholastic debates.

• Mallavadin and Siddhasena Divakara: Earlier writers on Jaina metaphysics and logic mentioned by Akalanka, with Siddhasena Divakara being the author of the popular devotional hymn Kalyanamandirastotra.

• Gunanandin: His Jainendraprakriya likely composed under the Chalukyas of Badami.

• Sanghadāsagani: Author of Vasudevahindi, a Jaina adaptation of Gunadhya's Brihatkatha, transferring its romantic episodes to Vasudeva.

• Dhananjaya: A Jaina poet from Karnataka who pioneered the Dvisandhana-kavya, a poem where verses simultaneously convey the stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. He also authored the lexicon Namamala, which showed an advance over Amarasimha, and the devotional hymn Vishapahara-stotra.

• Shrivardhadeva: A contemporary of Dandin and Dhananjaya, he wrote the poem Cudamani, earning praise from Dandin for his command over language.

• Rashtrakuta Period: This era was highly supportive of Jainism, witnessing the creation of encyclopedic commentaries on canonical texts and religious poems (Puranas). Notable works include Dhavala by Virasena and Jayadhavala by Jinasena II, extensive commentaries in a mixed Sanskrit-Prakrit style. Jinasena II also wrote the Harivamsa-purana and the Adipurana (dealing with Bharata and Bahubali), the latter setting a tradition for Kannada campu-writers. His Parsvabhyudaya ingeniously incorporates Kalidasa's Meghaduta.

• Amoghavarsha I: The Rashtrakuta king himself authored Prasnottara-ratnamalika, a collection of pithy epigrams.

• Haribhadra: Compiler of the philosophical treatise Shaddarshana-samuccaya, belonging to this period, and citing later works.

• Grammar: The period saw advancements in grammar with Durgasimha's gloss on the Kantra-sutras and Sakatayana's (Palyakirti) Sakatayana school, which further compressed Panini and Pujyapada. His Shabdānusāśana with its auto-commentary Amoghavritti honored his patron Amoghavarsha.

• Mathematics: Mahaviracharya, protege of Amoghavarsha, wrote the Ganita-sara-sangraha.

• Ganga Kings of Talkad: Continued their patronage of Jaina writers.

• Vidyānanda (Vidyanandin): A significant thinker in Syadvada, mentioning Ganga kings Shivamara and Racamalla Satyavakya I. His works include Shlokavarttika and Astasahasri.

• Commentators: Prabhachandra and Anantavirya were prominent philosophical commentators.

• Camundaraya: Minister to Ganga king Rocamalla IV, he erected the colossal statue of Bahubali in the 10th century, reflecting the era's widespread Jaina literary activity.

• Jayakirti: Author of Chandonusasana, an authoritative work on Sanskrit and Kannada prosody, offering insights into indigenous Kannada meters.

• Puspadanta and Somadevasuri: Patronized by Rashtrakuta king Krishnaraja III. Puspadanta authored Mahapurana, and Somadevasuri wrote the renowned Yasastilaka campu, a rich tapestry of contemporary Vedic, Agamic, Tantric, and popular wisdom. Somadeva also wrote Nitivakyamrta, a treatise on politics modeled on Kautilya's Arthashastra.

• Western Chalukya Kings of Kalyana: Their patronage of Sanskrit writers was substantial, fostering a healthy competition with Bhoja of Dhara.

• Vadiraja: A prominent Jaina scholar in Jayasimha II's court, praised for his contributions to logic and philosophy. His works include Yasodharacarita, Siddhiviniscaya, and Parsvanathacarita.

• Dayapala: A fellow student of Vadiraja, authored Rupasiddhi, a commentary on Sakatayana-vyakarana.

• Parsvadeva: Patronized by Someshvara III, wrote Sangitasamasara, important for understanding the evolution of Indian music.

• Vadibhasimha: Author of Gadyacintamani and Ksatreacudamani.

• Ajitasena: Author of Alankaracintamani.

In conclusion, the article asserts that Karnataka played a crucial role in the development and preservation of Jaina literature and culture, particularly through Sanskrit, and its contributions are as significant as the monumental Bahubali statue itself.