Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

SR No.: 011037
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shaktidhar Jha
Publisher: Bharat Bharti Bhandar
Publication Year: 1978
Total Pages: 315
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 102

Aspects of Brahmanual Influence on the Jain Mythology
with an amount of certainty that the Jaina Purānas, while preserving the relationship between Nābhi and Rşabha as that of father and son, have attributed to the latter the names and character of both Svayambhi and his son, the first Manu. The next two, viz Priyavrata and Agnidhra have been left out possibly because of their insignificant role in the cosmic development
With regard to the pedigree of lkşāhu it is interesting to note that almost all the six persons of the list have been assimilated with Rşabha in some way or other Of these six, sour have been treated as one with Rşabha inasmuch as he is called not only Hiranyagarbha and Ikşvāku but also Kaśyapa and Manu As for the remaining two viz Maricz and Vivas vai32 (the Sun-god), they, instead of being identified with the Jina, have heen made into the grand sons of the latter Of these tuo again, Vrasvat has been adopted in some of the Puranas as Adityayasas, while in others as Athakırız-both the names denoting the same sense and same person This Adityayasas is said to have continued the main line of Ihsvāku called Adity adams233, whilc Marici is represented as the founder of the heretic order, i e Brahmanıcal religion.
Now, examined in the light of the Brahmanical tradition as cmbalmed and treasured up in the epics and in some of the Bralımapical Purānas already referred to, the Jaina represcntation of Rsabha as Ikşvāku may be said to be the result of
32 In the Brahmanical works he is referred to by several synonyms, of
which Aditya, Sürya and Mälarda apscar to be of frequent occurre.
nces 33 Thus the traditional posteriority of Ikşâhu to Ādriga has been rcversed
in the Jaina Puranas and the Brahmanical grandfather of Iksvaku has heen pushed below to thc status of latter's grandson as Adityayasas or Antakirl. It is also to be noted that the carly Pali tradition preserved n I airsalthol patāsmi commentary on the Mahārainsa as quoted by Dr BC Law in his Tribes in Ancient India 213o muhes Adulya or Sinya prior, in timc, 10 Iksrálu 7s latter's ancestor The work says that some
iricen Prc-Ikstālulings of the Solar dynasty ruled at Kausambi in regular sticcession Similarly, thc Ceylon Chronicles, quoted by the same author, also mention sixteen kings as thic ancestors of king OHala It icáku
-BC Law, TAI, PP 110, 138