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 112

Aspects of Brahmanical Influence on the Jain Mythology
Under the circumstances it will not be simply hypothetical to assert that the canonical Bhogas, who are said to have formed a constituent unit of the vajjian confederacy of Vaisalı were the epical Bhojas who were reportedly with the Andhakas and Viinis in consanguinity, and sometime before the formation of the confederation immigrated to Vaisali and its adjoining tracts This conjecture is further confirmed by the evidence of the Mahabharata which 'refers to the exodus of the Tadavas from Mathura' under political pressure
94
Now, our survey of the dynastic lists and genealogical accounts begins with Vimalasuri's Paiimacarya35 which is the earliest of the extant Jaina Puranas to have supplied a list to different ruling dynasties of yore The royal Vamsas are styled Ihsvahu, Soma, Hari and Vidyadhara Viewed in the light of the canonical notices of ruling families already mentioned above, the present list of the four royal dynasties may be taken as a later creation of the Jaina Purana-writers, and, is in all probability based on the Brahmanical epic-Puranic list of principal royal families universally styled as the Solar and the Lunar dynasties with their manifold branches and sub-branches
Next, the list recurs in the Padmacarita of Ravişena His list is somewhat different from that of VPC on some noteworthy points
33 PHAI, p 142, See also Prof R K Chaudhary India, pp 140-147
34 PHAI,P 142
35 इक्खाग पढमवसो विइनो सोमो य होइ नायव्वो । विज्ञहराण तो हवइ चउत्यो उ हरिवसो ||
Vratyas in Ancient
-VPC 52
36 Supra n 2, The VH, however, gives a different list inasmuch as the work mentions Itsraku, Hari and Kuru together with the four ganas called the Ugra, Bhoga, Rajanya and Naga All these ganos are said to have been ruling at Kosalajanapada,-JC Jain, HPL, p 389