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 134

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Aspects af Brahmanical Influence on the Jaina Mythology
already seen that those persons, according to the same tradition, were not among the progeny of Ikşvāku Rsabha
Now, Hemacandra, certainly mindful of these inconsiste encies and discrepancies in the dynastic accounts of his Digambara predecessors, has apparently tried to remove them insofar as he has represented Kuru and Somaprabha as distinct persons and tacked them to Ikştāku ķşabha as latter's son and grandson respectively. Now, abiding by the universal practice of nomenclature of places mentioned before, he says that the tract known as Kuruksetra received its name from Kurul27, son of Ikşvāku Rsabha. Similarly, he states that the capital city of Hastmāpura was founded by, and so named after Hastin whom the author presents as Kuru's 128 son. But a study of Hemacandra's version shows that his statements about Hastinapura suffer from self-contradiction inasmuch as he has already represe ented Somaprabha, the eldest son of Bahubalın as the ruler of Hastinapura.139
Thus, from these two conflicting statements it is obvious that with regard to the representation of Somaprabha as the son of Bahubalin and ruler of Hastinapura, Hemacandra has followed his Jaina predecessors, especially Sanghadāsagani, the author of Vasudevahındı 130 But in respect of Ruru and Hastin191, he has evidently drawn upon the Brahmanical epic-Purānic tradition hy inverting the traditional genealogical order of the two 132
All these discrepancies and inconsistencies in the dynastic and gencalogical accounts may be taken as instances of
127. TSPC, vol. V. P. 197, 128 Ibid Vol V P 197,
129 Ib.d 1 3 243-44 130 भयव पितामहो...पत्तो य हरियणारं। तत्थ य वाहुवलिस्स सुग्रो 1909€T, 754 a gatyti
VH p 164 131. Väyu P 99 165, Meissa-P 49 42 , MBh. 1.95 31. 132 All the Brahmanical sources represent Hastin as Kuru's ancestor ;
MB 195 34 and 39, Paju 99 165, 214, HV 20 16 , 32 41, 85, Mialja-p 49 42, 50.20, Vı . 4.19.1.10, 18, MBh 94 48-50