Studies In Jain Literature

This document is a collection of research papers by Professor V. M. Kulkarni, published as "Studies in Jain Literature." The book, part of the Shresthi Kasturbhai Lalbhai Series, was published in 2001 by the Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre in Ahmedabad.

Professor Kulkarni's work is characterized by several significant contributions to the study of Jain literature:

• Aesthetic Evaluation of Prakrit Poetry: For the first time, Prakrit poetry has been analyzed in light of established aesthetic theories, assessing its substantial contributions.
• Recovery of Abhinavabhāratī Ch. VII: A portion of Abhinavabhāratī, previously believed to be lost, has been recovered.
• Insights into Sarvasena's Harivijaya: Fresh light has been shed on the earliest known (though lost) Prakrit epic, Harivijaya, which has received appreciation from literary critics.
• Explanation of Sāttvikabhāvas: The full significance of Sāttvikabhāvas has been explained in detail.
• Impartial Evaluation of Hemacandra: Hemacandra's contributions have been assessed from an impartial perspective.
• Restoration of Prakrit Verses: The importance of restoring Prakrit verses found in Sanskrit works on poetics has been emphasized, with the reconstruction of over 1600 corrupt verses.
• Highlighting Key Poetics Works: The supreme importance of works like Kāvyānusāsana, Natyadarpana, and Kalpalatāviveka for restoring corrupt passages in poetics has been brought to scholarly attention.

The collection is divided into two parts: Part I focuses on Dharma and Purānas, while Part II covers non-religious (secular) literature. The papers span Kulkarni's research over five decades and include critical reviews and original research articles.

The book is dedicated to the late Dr. A. N. Upadhye, Prof. Dalsukh D. Malvania, Dr. H. C. Bhayani, and Dr. A. M. Ghatage.

The collected papers cover a wide range of topics within Jain literature and its intersection with broader Indian literary traditions, including:

• Jain Mythology: The character and origin of Jain mythology, particularly the sixty-three great figures (salākāpuruṣas).
• The Ramayana in Jain Literature: A detailed study of the Jain adaptations of the Rama story, its origins, development, and interaction with Valmiki's Ramayana.
• Comparative Studies: Comparisons between Jain and Brahmanical texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Uttarādhyayanasūtra, examining their views on creation, sacrifice, and caste.
• Literary Analysis: Studies on Prakrit languages, types of stories in Sanskrit and Prakrit literature with a focus on Dharmakatha, and critical analyses of specific works like Vimala's Paümacariya, Haribhadrasuri's works, Hemacandra's Kavyanusasana, and Vijayavarni's Srngararnavacandrika.
• Specific Concepts: Investigations into Svabhāvavāda (Naturalism) and Eschatological Ideas in Jain tradition.
• Restoration of Texts: A significant portion of the work details the process and importance of restoring corrupt or lost manuscripts of classical Sanskrit poetics works, leading to the rediscovery of significant textual portions.

Overall, "Studies in Jain Literature" showcases Professor V. M. Kulkarni's extensive scholarship and his significant contributions to understanding the rich and multifaceted landscape of Jain literary and philosophical traditions.