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 152

134
Aspects of Brahmanıcal influence on the Jaina ilfythology
Except that we do not come across any king of that name in the cpic-Purāņıc lists of the royal families
As for the names Raghu and Kalustha of RPG and TSPC these may be taken as the emended forms of the colloquial Prakrit names Kakubha and Raghusa as found in VPC
Now, our perusal of the forcgoing lists reveals that these contain two types of names Some names are probably of the Jioist invention, while others are of Brahmanical popularity The latter type of names finds simply a bare enumeration, while the names of the former class are associated with some events of purely religious nature. Their description leaves no doubt that these persons as well as their accounts have been invented to inculcate the imperativeness of the Jaina way of asceucism and to illustrate the efficacy of Jaipa religion and ethics The accounts are given on a stereotyped pattern and are bereft of human interest. Thus, Vagrabāhu, son or grandson70 of king Vijaya is stated to have renounced the world just after his marriage 71 Kirtidhara, son of Purandara, is said to have taken to monkhood after installing his fiftcen-day-old son Sukošala on the throne 72 Next, we are told that the latter followed the example of his father, after conferring sovereignty on his son who was still in his mother's womb 73
Besides the above stories, we come across one of Sodasa (also called Saudāsa), son of Naghusa, the Jaina, ciupterpart of the Brahmanical Nahuşa The tale, 74 illustrating, as it does, the dreadful consequences of meat eating and the marvels of Jinadharma is a Jaina recast of the Brahmanıcal legend 75 of
70. Ravişena has inserted in his list one Surendramanyu as the son of Vijaya
and father of Vagrabāhu (RPC, 74-77) 71 VPC 21 42-73, RPC 21 76w123, TSPC, 747-27 72 VPC 21 80-92 , RPC 21 140-164 , TSPC, 7 + 31-37 73 सथाविऊण गाढ सुकोसलो भरणइ तुज्झ गम्मि । भद्दे, होही पुत्तो, सो अहिसित्तो मए रज्जे ॥
LVPC, 22 21, Also RPC, 22 44 , TSPC, 7 4 60 74 VPC 22 72-95, RPG, 22 132-52 , TSPC, 7 4 86 105 76 Viş p 4 4 40-09 MBh. 1 1751 176-80 , Bhāg 9 9 18-39, Romā, 170;
40,2.110.29, 7.86.10-37.