Jain Sahitya In Kannada Literature

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text "Jain Sahitya in Kannada Literature" by B. S. Sannaiah, based on the excerpt from the "Shri Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth":

The article "Jain Sahitya in Kannada Literature" by B. S. Sannaiah asserts that Jain literature played a foundational role in the development of Kannada literature. The author suggests that Kannada literature existed even before the Christian era, with the earliest available literary work being the Kavirajamarga (circa 850 AD). However, the text points out that the Kavirajamarga itself references earlier, now lost, Kannada poets, implying that Jain works likely preceded it, and that the initial spark of Kannada literature may have come from Jain contributions.

The author highlights several significant early Jain literary works and poets:

• Early Lost Works: Works like Harivamsa, Sadraka by Gunavarma, Vatsarajacarita by Nagavarma, Sulocanacarita by Nagananda, and Bhuvanai'karamabhyudaya by Ponda are mentioned as lost but confirmed to be Jain literature, further solidifying the claim of Jain literature's early prominence.
• Pampa: Considered a pivotal figure, Pampa (circa 941 AD) is credited with two major Kavyas (epic poems): Adipurana and Vikramarjunavijaya. He earned epithets like "Adikavi" and "Mahakavi" and his works are regarded as the first and foremost of their kind.
• Ponna: Following Pampa, Ponna (circa 950 AD) composed both religious (Santipurana) and secular (Bhuvanai'karamabhyudaya) poems.
• Ranna: Ranna (circa 993 AD) also wrote a religious poem (Ajitashāntipurana) and a secular one (Gadāyuddha or Sahasabhimavijaya).
• Janna: Living in 1209 AD, Janna contributed two religious poems: Anantanathapurana and Yasodharacarita.
• Kavicakravarti: Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna are collectively referred to as "Kavicakravarti" (Emperors of Poets).
• Nagachandra: Active around 1100 AD, Nagachandra authored Ramachandracaritapurana (also known as Pampa Ramayana) and Mallinathapurana. He earned the moniker "Abhinavapampa" (New Pampa) for styling his Ramachandracaritapurana after Pampa's work.

The article notes a trend among these poets of writing both religious and secular works, primarily in the Campu style, which is a blend of prose and poetry.

Beyond poetry, Jain writers are recognized for their contributions to scientific and scholarly literature:

• Prosody: Nagavarma (990 AD) wrote Chandombudhi, and Nagavarma II (1040 AD) wrote Chandovrtti.
• Erotics: Madanatilaka is attributed to Candraraja.
• Astrology: Sridharacharya (1050 AD) authored Jātatilaka.
• Poetics: Nagavarma II also wrote Kavyavalokana.
• Grammar: Nagavarma II authored Bhasabhusana, and Kesiraja's Sabdamanidarpana (1260 AD) is highly praised as an ideal grammar that served as a model for subsequent works.
• Lexicography: Nagavarma II also compiled Vastukosa (a dictionary).
• Medicine: Jagaddala Somapatha (1100 AD) wrote Kalyanakaraka, a treatise on medicine, and Mangaraja's Khagendramanidarpaṇa focused on venom cures.

The period from the 9th to the 13th century AD is characterized as the "Age of the Jainas" or the "Age of the Campu" due to the prolific output of Jain writers across various literary and scholarly fields, establishing them as poets, scientists, rhetoricians, lexicographers, astrologers, physicians, and grammarians.

Furthermore, Jain writers are credited with being pioneers in introducing prose style in Kannada literature. Cavundaraya, famous for the Bahubali statue at Sravanabelgola, wrote the prose work Cavundarayapurana (or Trisasthishalakapurusacarite). Sivakotyacarya or Revakostacarya (900-1070 AD) is noted for his prose work Vaddharadhane, which contains 19 varied stories sprinkled with Prakrit gathas.

After the 15th century, Jain poets began adopting Sangithya or Satpadi meters to align with the popular styles of other communities. The article also mentions that Jain saints, well-versed in Sanskrit and Prakrit, wrote extensive commentaries in Kannada on important Jain philosophical works, making them accessible to Kannada readers and enriching this specific area of Kannada literature.

In conclusion, the article emphasizes that while Kannada literature is rich with works from Virasaiva and Brahmin writers, Jain literature constitutes a distinct and significant category due to its vastness and variety, earning admiration from the Kannada literary world.