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 53

The Epics and the Jaina Purānas
least acknowledgement of the loan taken from it 87 This state, however, does not create a healthy impression about Silanka who has virtually made himself guilty of plagiarism.
Hemacandra's Trisastrśalakāpurusacanta (Circa 1160-1172 A D.) is the fourth known work concerning the life-stories of the sixty-three great persons of the faith 88 It is a huge compo. sition in partans One appendix styled Parzśışta Parvanog is added to the main work probably in imitation of the Mahābha. Tata whereof the Harvamša, also called Panśıştaparvan and Khila forms an appendix.
The TSPC is very important from the standpoint of richness of contents Most of the myths and legends, which are found in a concise form in the earlier works recur in it in an enlarged and elaborate form Some of the epic-Puranic episodes, not met with or summarily treated in the carlier Jaina narratives, are of particular interest These are, for instance, the episode of Nala and Damayanti, of Puruhuila (a Vidyadharacounterpart of Indra) and Ahalya, 90 of Usa and Aniruddhaol and
(c) कमलिनीसंचरणव्यतिकरलग्ननलिननालकटकेव न क्वचिदपि निर्भरमावघ्नाति पदम् ॥
--Kāda P 226 The above lines occur in both works in the same context, bringing home to us, as they do, some peculiar traits of Lakşmi, the goddess of
fortune and Beauty Vide Appendix appearing in the scquel 87. Although in one context the author mal es a pointed reserence to king
Tärápida and his Prime Minister Sukanāsa (atrala TUT (U) ETT
यल विष साहीरणसूयणासं) 88 Winternitz, HIL Vol II, pp 505-507 89 Ibid, pp 507-510 90 VSPC, Vol V p 73, which is undoubtedly based on the epic story of
Indra's violation of Ahalyā, wife of sage Gautama, MBh 5 12 0,12 342 23, 13-41 21 Rámā 1 48 15f, 7 30 24-34 and comp TSPC, Voi IV
p 45 91 TSPC, Vol V, pp 245-47 The cpisode, as in Hv (2 116 12-19) also
records thc boon of invincibility granted to Bāna, father of Usā, by Samkara It is also remarkable that Goddess Gauri is stated to have given U a the boon that she would have Aniruddha, grandson of Krsna as her husband Comp Hv 2 117 13-19, 118 72-74, also 2 chapters 119-125