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CONTRIBUTIONS TO LITERATURE ETC.
summary, no doubt, but only at the expense of a clear understanding of the distinctive contributions of Jainism to each branch of literature. Yet, for the sake of illustration, we shall occasionally cite parallels in whatever language they might be found, especially where kinship of thought and expression demand such a reference.
Kundakundācārya is by far the earliest, the best known and most important of all Jaina writers in the South. He deserves mention here because of his extraordinary importance. His several names—as indicated in a Patļāvali of the Balatkāragana and confirmed by the Vijayanagara inscription of Harihara II were Elācārya, Padmanandi, Vakragriva, Gridhrapincha, in addition to Kundakunda." His birth-place or place of residence, like that of Homer, is a contested question being claimed by all the important linguistic provinces of the South, viz. Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. His influence over South Indian Jainism as a whole is indicated by the fact that almost all later writers, teachers, and men of note, either in their works, genealogies, or inscriptions trace their descent from Kundakunda calling themselves Kundakundānvaya.' An inscription at Śravaņa Belgoļa says, "the lord of ascetics, Kundakunda, was born through the good fortune of the world. In order to show that he was not touched in the least, both within and without, by dust (passion), the lord of ascetics, I believe, left the earth, the abode of dust, and moved four inches above."4
Kundakunda's most important works are (1) Pancāstikāya ; (2) Pravacanasāra; (3) Samayasāra; (4) Niyamasāra; (5) Rayanasāra; (6) Aştapāhuda (consisting of darśana, sulla, caritta, bôdha, bhāvamokkha, linga, and śila); and (7) Bāraha 1 About the various names of Kundakunda see Pravacanasura, Prof.
A. N. Upadhye's ed. Introd, p. 6. 2 Cf. Ibid., pp. 9, 12-13; Shoshxgiri Rao, Studies in S.L.J. II. pp. 9-10. 3 Cf. Chakravarti, The Jaina Gazette, XVIII, pp. 1-2. 4 Ep. Car. II, SB. 254, 351, Trans. pp. 110-155. Br. Sitalpragadji,
opinos that Kandakonda oould not have gone to Sardártkasiddhi, but only to Swarga.
JEO_2528-9
| SR No. | 011062 |
| Book Title | Jainism and Karnataka Culture |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | S R Sharma |
| Publisher | Karnataka Historical Research Society Dharwar |
| Publication Year | 1940 |
| Total Pages | 263 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 9 MB |