Some Jaina Canonical Sutras c3.7

c3.7

‘The Jains did not stop at merely expounding their own doctrines in Sanskrit works. They also devoted themse’ves to the secular sciences of the Brahmans. Their achievements in grammar, astronomy, as well as in some branches of secular literature, have been so important that they have received notice even from their opponents, and some of their works are still of importance for European science. In southern India, where they were active among the Dravidians, they have also aided in the development of these languages. The literary language of the Kanarese, of Tamil, and of Telugu, rests on the basis laid by the Jaina monks. This activity led them indeed far from their proper aims, but it has created for them a not unimportant position in the history of Indian literature and culture.’¹