Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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occasion to tell the well-known story in all the details." S. No.4: Udayana ('or perhaps Uddāyana' Jacobi), the best
among the kings of Sauvira renounced (his kingdom or) the world, turned monk and finally attained salvation. He was contemporary with Mahavira. 'Sinavalli, this name of a deity, is rather unusual, so
too the name of the town 'Kumbhakāravekkha'. S. No. 5: Sanatkumāra ranks fourth among the twelve Cakra
vartins of the Janin mythology. The word Cakravartin (or cakrin) means one who rules over the six khandas of Bhārata-varsa. He possesses a wondrous cakra (disc) whereby he is called a 'cakrin', Dr. Ghatage thinks that “The original meaning appears to be a king whose chariot-wheel meets no obstacle in his conquests."... scholars have explained the word 'cakravartin" in different ways. Wilson considered it to mean ‘one who abides in (vartate) a large territory called a cakra. Kern takes 'vartin' to mean 'vartayati' 'who rules'. Senart regards him to be one who owns a cakraväla while Jacobi thinks that cakra' here stands
for the political term mandala." S. No. 6. : Brahmadatta is the last of the twelve cakravartins.
This legend, with some variations, is common to Brahmanic, Buddhist and Jain traditions. It represents a beautiful specimen of the old ascetic poetry. The dominant idea or motif underlying this legend is nidäna. It is originally, a medical term. Haribhadrasuri explains it as the disorder of the humours of the body (dhatus). Metaphorically it means 'bad karman' which upsets the moral constitution of the soul (Jiva). The Tattvärthadhigama-sūtra describes it as the fourth kind of artadhyāna; the bhāsya explains it thus :