Disentangling Poetry from Profit in Jain Monks’ Literary Works

Journal article

Greed (lobha) is one of the four passions (kaṣāya) that are the primary causes for the soul’s bondage by karmic matter. Medieval Jain literature is brimful with stories and accounts where greed is condemned and ridiculed. This article looks at some of these literary instances, in which court poets attempt to uncouple the production of poetry from the monetary reward of a patron. It focuses on the three Jain authors - Bālacandra (thirteenth century), Hemacandra (1089-1172), and Rāmacandra (1093-1174) - who, I argue, set themselves apart from some other non-Jain poets, who engaged in what they implied was the foul practice of writing poetry for personal enrichment. While these monks, as well as Jains more generally, valorized wealth and riches for the purpose of spreading the Jain dharma, building temples, and worshipping the Jina, they denounced the reduction of the poetic skill to the fiscal benefits it can produce.

Authors: Restifo, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, Centre of Jaina Studies
• Journal: International Journal of Jaina Studies
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-9
• Publication date: 2020-02-24
• Acceptance date: 2020-02-01
• EISSN: 1748-1074
• Language: Engilsh
• Keywords: FFR