With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts :
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts?
A
1, 2 and 3
B
2 and 4 only
C
1, 3 and 4
D
2, 3 and 4
Correct Answer: Option B
Explanation
1. The question asks to identify which of the listed texts are Jaina texts.
2. Nettipakarana: This is a Buddhist scripture, considered canonical in the Burmese tradition and part of the Khuddaka Nikaya in the Pali Canon. It deals with hermeneutics and textual interpretation. It is not a Jaina text.
3. Parishishtaparvan: Also known as the Sthaviravali Charita, this is a 12th-century Sanskrit epic poem by the Jaina scholar Hemachandra. It details the history of the earliest Jaina teachers. It is a Jaina text.
4. Avadanashataka: This is a Sanskrit Buddhist text containing one hundred 'avadanas' or stories about the past lives of the Buddha and other Buddhist figures, illustrating the workings of karma. It is not a Jaina text.
5. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana: This is a major Jaina text composed primarily by Acharya Jinasena and his pupil Gunabhadra in the 9th century CE. It narrates the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons (Shalakapurushas) of Jainism. It is a Jaina text.
6. Therefore, the Jaina texts among the options are Parishishtaparvan (2) and Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana (4).