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 187

The Hari-Dynasty
169
Next, the inclusion of Matsya among the early Arlas is of great significance from the comparative standpoint In the Brahmanıcal tradition Matsya87 is reckoned among the sons of king Vasu Uparıcara of Ced: The diffcrence between the Brāh. manical tradition and the Jaina one is simply positional inasmuch as in the latter tradition Matsga has been placed many stops above Vasu and, so, has been treated here as latter's ancestor But this disagrcement between the two traditions is not of material importance, for the traditional order might have been reversed with a motive to lend the pedigree an independent appearance In any case, the reckoning of Matsya as a scion of the family, to which ling Vasu has also been assigned, is not without value, for, the representation points to the same truth as is conveyed by the Brahmanical tradition about Matsya's connection with Vasu
The order of succession from Ayodhana to Vasu is as follows88.
Ayodhana, Mūla, Sala, Sürya, Amara, Devadatta, Mithilanätha, Harışena, nabhasena, Sankha, Bhadra, Abhicandra, Vasu
The corresponding part as found in the VH89 shows that Jinasena has inserted in his list four extra names between sala and Hanışena Thus their non occurrence in the VH list shows that these names are of Jinasena's own manufacture However, two of the above names, viz, Müla and $āla have some core respondence with Mülaka and Viśāla, of the Brahmanıcal tradition Mülaka90 in the Brahmanical sources is represented as the grandson of Aśmaka, a scion of the Solar race Sala, already mentioned in the VHol as Višala and represented as
87 HV, 1 32 01-93, Vis P , 4 19 81, Vägup 99 219-222, Also MB) 169
34-63, which gives a mythical account of Matsya's birth 88 JHV, 17 32-37. 89 p 357. 90 Sita Nath Pradhan, Chronology of Ancient India, pp 148-49, Pargitar,
op cit, pp 94 147 274, 01 p 367.