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 165

The Ikşvaku Race and its Various Branches
147
procreated by Vicuravīrya himself A probable reason of this modification scems to be the somewhat uncivilized and obno. xious nature of the ancient usage of Levirate which was unpalatable to the Jaina standards of ethics and morality Naturally, by effecting the above change, the Jaina authors have purged the story of that unwholesome element
Another special feature of the Svetāmbara version is the representation of all the three daughters of the king of Kaśı as Victravirya's wives But the epic tells us that of the three sisters, whom Bhışma had carried off to Hastinapura, only the second and third sisters, viz Ambalıkā and Ambika were married to Vicitradirya 141 The eldest sister, named Amba was set frec by Bhışma, because the former had already mentally chosen the Saloa king as her lord.142 Hence, Victtravirya, according to the Brahmanical sources had only two wives 148 Now the Jaina reckoning of Ambā among Vicitraðirya's wives may be taken as having been actuaied by the motive of elevating the social status of Vidura, who, though held in high regard and treated as the brother of Dhiarăstra and Pandu, was, according to the Brahmanical tradition, born of a slave girl employed in the royal seraglio
Still another form of the pedigree is found in Subhacandra's Pandavapurāna, the last work in the series of the Puranıc literature under investigation The version as given by Subhacandra bears a clear mark of its having been made of heterogeneous elements derived from the different works of his predecessors Thus, unlike Gunabhadra and Puspadanta, the author of this Purana reckons king Sāntanu among the forefathers of the Kaurava-Pandava brothers, but in lieu of Gāngeya (Bhisma), Citrangada and Vicitravīrya, he introduces Parāśara as the son of king Santanu 144 Next, Parasara is made the father of both 141 MBh 1 102 3-00 142 Ibid 1 102 60-64 143 MBh 1 95 61 Vış p 4 20 36 144 yifa tifrayantenT #Ta tatuut
सत्यकी तत्प्रिया प्रीता मीता वा रामभूभुज । पराशरमहीशस्तु तयो सूनुरभूवली।
-SPP. 7 756-70,