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 169

The Ikşvāku Race and its Various Branches
161
hitas, so he acquired the name Vyasa.168 We are further told that this same Satyavati, who regained her maidenhood after the birth of Dvarpāyana, later became the second wife of king Šāntanu169 of the Puru-race
Our investigation shows that except the above legendary connection between Satyavati and Matsya there is nothing to suggest the former's relationship with the latter. Hence we are tempted to hold that this same mythical tie between the two may be taken as the basis of the Jaina representation of Satyapart as a princess of the Matsyalto race For, so far as we know, nowhere in the Jaina Putānas even a fabricated Matsya dynasty worth the name has been mentioned or referred to Thus, it is obvious that the Digambara authors, in their effort to give their versions an appearance of originality, have normalized the above-mentioned abnormal events and associations of Satyavati's early life and legitimatized her illegitimate son begotten by the sage Parāšara The Svetāmbaras, on the other hand, impliedly disapproving the Digambara method of working the pedigree, have maintained absolute silence over the association of Satyavati with Parāśara and Vyāsa And taking account of only the brighter aspect of her life the Svetāmbara versions have set out the former as the wife of king Santanu and mother of Cutrāngada and Vectravirya, as shown before.
Thus, the Jaina genealogies compared together on the one hand and with epic-Purānıc genealogies, on the other, force us to conclude that from the Brahmanical epic-Purānic works the Jaina authors have drawn the materials of their own choice and reproduced them in accordance with their individual tastes Now, being actuated by a desire to invest their 168. faouth Sang RTG # TEHT TE sfat
-Ibid , 1 03.882, यो व्यस्य वेदाश्चतुरस्तपसा भगवान षिः । लोके व्यासत्वमापेदे कायाद कृष्णस्वमेव च ॥
-1.104,16, 160 I 95.48.49 170 Sec notes 121 and 12