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

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Aspects of Brahmanıcal Influence on the Jaina Mythology
ministers, acquired the title Bhoga,65 the men of Lord's own age were designated as Rajanyas56 and the remaining people were known as Ksatriyas 57 As is evident from the account, the Kşalras, according to Hemacandra's version, constituted the allcomprising class of men whereof the first three were sub-sections with specific administrative powers
As is obvious, the above-cited diverging statements regarding the origin of the different classes detract much from the authenticity and credibility of the accounts As such, the versions may be taken as having been actuated by the Jaina authors' desire to accord their sanction to the institution of class. And to make the social organization acceptable to the Jaina order, its origin was tacked on to the mythical father of the faith 58
However, what is significant is not the question of the origin of the Vamas, but the idea of keeping class-and-caste distinction undisturbed Kings are often praised as preservers of the four Vamas and Aśramas But of all the authors Jinasena shows the greatest interest in enjoining the people to follow the avocation of their own families and classes Like the Brahmanical epic-Purānic authors and Smrtıkáras, he asks the king 10 check confusion of classes and punish the transgressors -"One, who having abandoned his own mode of life will take to that of) another (class)”, says he, "should be punished by the kings, otherwise, there will occur intermixture of classes."59 That
55 Ibid , 12 075b 06 jbrd , 1 2 076a 57 Ibid , 1 2 8766 88 We also meet with another Jaina view which instead of ascribing the
origin of the castes to Rsabha and bis son Bharata, represents the costes and their observances as existing from eternity-जातयोऽनादय सर्वाRaffinfo tofagri_rajastelaka, Book VIII, Section 34, quoted
in rajastılal a and Indian Culture, p 332 50 स्वामिमा वृत्तिमुत्नम्य यस्त्वन्या वृत्तिमाचरेत् । स पापिनियन्तव्यो वर्णसकीरिणरन्यथा ॥
-AP.16 248.