Kathakosa or the Treasury of Stories true to its name, illustrates the tenets and practice of Jainism. The Jain theologians have made use of these genuine fragments of Indian folk-lore for the edification of the votaries of their religion. These stories also delineates the essence of the religious outlook of the Jains-that they could possibly not be satisfied with anything less than absolute salvation from the miseries of existence as their ultimate subject, the blessings of wealth and sovereignty were not absolutely despised by the writers of these works, but regarded as the reward of virtue in a previous life. This is one of the concessions to human frailty found in the Jain system. It is also evident from a perusal of the stories of the Kathakosa that the Jains do actually worship gods many and lords many. There is occasional mention made of nunneries and of the honour paid to holy women. Difference of opinion, regarding nuns between the Svetambaras and the Digambaras have also been painted in detail. These Jain stories were carried by the Buddhists to far distant countries in view of the fact that Jainism has been almost entirely limited to India. These Jain tales will be welcome addition to the storehouse of the folklorists as a contribution to their science.
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