This work deals with the important but neglected study of Prakrit narrative literature. It is the elaborate study spanning over 2000 years from the 6th cent. BC to 15th cent. AD. It gives a vivid account of tales discussing the use of social, religious, magical bird and journey motifs, representing the realistic life with social, cultural, and socioeconomic condition of the common people, delineating their commercial, and educational activities and their objects and nature of worship, god and goddesses, ritual and practices, festivals and ceremonies etc. the linguistic aspects of the book show that the Jain writers gave a new twist to the literature by introducing new ideas. From every viewpoint the book must be of immense help in the reconstruction of cultural history of India.

About the Author

Dr. Jagdishchandra Jain, who has been a Research Professor in the Department of Indology, University of Kiel, West Germany and Professor of Hindi in the University of Peking, China, is a renowned author of over 60 books on Ancient Indian Culture, Indian Philosophy, Prakrit Studies etc. His outstanding works are:

The Vasudevahindi - An authentic Jain Version the Brhatkatha; Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canon; The Gift of Love and other Ancient Indian Tales about Women; Bhagwan Mahavir; History of Prakrit Literature; Syadvadamanjari.

Recently he lectured on ancient Indian history and culture, in various US, Canadian and Latin American universities.