Some Aspects of Jaina Narrative Literature (4/4)

Some Aspects of Jaina Narrative Literature

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9.0 Prākŗta Poetry

9.1 QUIZZES FOR ENTERTAINMENT

One hero asked his wife: Please answer these four questions only by one word.

What is that one word? His intelligent wife replied:   That word is:   Kāńtāharam

9.2 Depiction of Fine Arts in Jaina Literature

1. The Jaina literature provides a variety of material regarding education, arts and sciences. The story of Meghakumāra counts seventy-two varieties of arts.
2. The story of king Pradeśi is more significant. It describes thirty two kinds of dramas. In the commentaries their forms have been discussed.
3. The Nayadhammakahā presents valuable material on painting. Picture-galleries are mentioned in many texts.
4. Most of the technical terms of paintings and fine arts can be explained through this literature.
5. Carving golden image of Malli referred in Nayadhammakahā is the glowing example of sculpture.
6. The Kuvalayamālākahā mentions the making of images from white stone (Mukta sela) for the first time in Jaina literature.
7. In the description of Śāntinātha Jaina Temple of Pātaliputra a beautiful woman image has been described in the Rayancudarayacariyam. The description of this image is comparable to Khajurāho women image.
8. The Rāyapaseniyasutta provides a large material on architecture, which proves the development of the art of house building to a great extent in that period.
9. Brhatkalpabhāşya mentions three kinds of buildings:
   An underground cell, a palace and a combination of the two.
   Dr. J. C. Jain has critically examined these references found in Agama texts and commentaries.

10.0 Illustrated Manuscripts and Jaina Paintings

1. The Jaina contribution in this field is of great significance, especially of the mural paintings at Sittannavasal, Armamlai and Tirumalai in Tamil Nadu, and Ellora in Maharashtra. These supply important links in the history of Indian Paining.
2. The Kalpasūtra in the collection at Ahmedabad, painted at the Gāndhāra Bundara (port) on the west coast in c. 1475 A.D. with a lavish use of gold, lapis lazuli, carmine, etc., shows remarkable border decorations with paintings illustrating different technicalities of Bharata- Natyam and Persian influence.
3. The Digambaras illustration of the Yaśodhrā Caritra, and of the lives of Jinas and others described in works like the Ādipurāņa and Uttarapurāņa of Jinasena and Gunabhadra became very popular and have provided some exquisite examples of miniatures.
4. The palm leaf illustrations of the Dhavala and Jayadhavala manuscripts painted in the twelfth century in Karnataka also are remarkable.
5. Jainas also patronized the art of wood carving. Beautifully and richly carved temple mandapas, miniature shrines etc. have been discovered and published.
6. Jaina caves at Ellora have several paintings on their ceilings which are an important landmark in the history of painting in India.
7. Illustrated palm leave manuscripts are found only in Jaisalmer Bhandāras while the other kind of illustrated manuscripts are found in several Bhandāras.
8. The illustrations on the life of lord Neminātha reveal that the painters of the 12th century were not limited to the painting of the portraits only but they were expert also in making other painting.
9. There is a manuscript of Ādipurāņa written by Kavi Puşpadanta in the 10th century. This manuscript was copied in the year 1404 A.D. On the 14th folio of this manuscript there is a painting of Marudevi, mother of Lord Ŗşabhadeva, the first Jaina Tirthańkara seeing sixteen dreams. The color is still in good condition and it has been draw on pure Indian style.

11.0 Importance of Jaina Grantha Bhandāras

1. Jaina Grantha Bhandāras are the Treasure Houses of Manuscripts.
2. They were the earlier literary institutions of the country.
3. They saved the treasure of knowledge from destruction.
4. Colophons called prasastis of Manuscripts are very important from the historical point of view. On the basis of these, the time of many rulers can be determined and history of old cities and towns can be prepared.