A STUDY OF JAINA LITERATURE: VASUDEVAHINDI OF SANGHADASAGANI

Abstract

The most important, interesting and popular of Jaina literature, Vasudevahindi has a prominent place in text. Known as the Jaina version of the extinct 'Brihatkatha' composed in the Paishachi Prakrit of the great poet Gunadhya, this Shringar Pradhan story has realistic and captivating portrayal of various aspects of human life. In spite of being basically a religious story, it has a network of many interesting stories which give the readers a live view of the social, political, economic and geographical conditions of that time. Thus, the present study focuses on a study of Jaina Literature with special reference to Vasudevahindi.