CONTENTS:- I. Jaina Sanskrit Mahakavyas : trends and characteristics. II. Literary Mahakavyas: 1. Jayasekhara and his Jaina Kumarasambhava. 2. Mandana and his Kavyamandana. 3. Kirtiraja Upadhyaya and his Neminatha-mahakavya. 4. Padmasundara and his Yadusundara-mahakavya. 5. Devavimala and his Hirasaubhagya. 6. Punyakusala's Bharatabahubali-mahakavya. 7. Suracandra and his Sthulabhadragunamalacaritra. III. Sastric Mahakavya: 1. Saptasandhana-mahakavya. IV. Historical Mahakavyas: 1. Nayacandra Suri and his Hammiramahakavya. 2. Kumarapalacarita of Caritrasundara. 3. Sumatisambhava of Sarvavijaya Gani. V. Puranic Mahakavyas: 1. Manikyacandra's Sridharacarita. 2. Rajamalla's Jambusavamicarita. 3. Ratnacandra Gani's Pradyumnacarita. Appendix: A note on Vivahavallabha-mahakavya.
DESCRIPTION
Not with standing its distinct personality, the Jaina Sanskrit Mahakavya broadly represents an extension of the classical tradition. The Jainistic authors made substantial contributions to enrich the Mahakavya tradition at a time when it was supposed to have gone dormant. No appraisal of the Sanskrit Mahakavya can be claimed to be complete without taking into account the Mahakavyas authored by the Jaina poets. The book means to turn focus on some of the celebrated Jaina Mahakavyas of all hues. While it has no pretension to be exhaustive, it is fairly representative. Some of the prominent Mahakavyas written from the 15 to the 17 century have been subjected to a sustained appraisal, which, even if brief, is all-embracing. However, some of the poems, in view of their rich contents and high poetic merits, have received comprehensive treatment. Some of the Mahakavyas that still exist in the MS form have been studied threadbare. The book thus presents, for the first time, an indepth evaluation of some of the most notable literary, historical, puranic and sastric poems. The evaluation has been uniformly balanced and unlliased. While affording glimpses thereof, the book aims to prompt the reader to undertake the study of the original poems in detail.
