Religion and Culture of the Jains

SR No.: 014007
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D C Sirkar
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1973
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 10 MB

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RELIGION AND CULTURE OF THE JAINS
names given by him are traditional; as for example, the Kurajangalas of epic fame, who could not have maintained their existence as late as the 8th century A.D.50
Elsewhere in the same chapter (11. 30-53), Jinasena has referred to the Mlecchas living near the mouth of the Indus. We must remember that the conquest of a large part of Sind by the Muslims was completed by the time our poet wrote his work (i.e. 783 A.D.). There is little doubt, therefore, that he has referred to the Arab Muslims settled near the Indus. But the first ancient Indian writer referring to the Muslims is Ravisena who completed his famous Jain life of Rāma, entitled Padma Purāṇa, in 675 A.D. The relevant verse (27. 14) of that work runs
Aryadeśaḥ paridhvastā Mlecchair = udvāsitaṁ jagat ekavarṇāṁ prajāṁ sarvāṁ pāpāḥ kartuṁ samudyatāḥ||
50 [Kuru is mentioned in medieval inscriptions like the Bhagalpur plate of Nārāyaṇapäla and the Khajuraho inscription of Dhanga.-Ed.] We take this opportunity to reproduce an earlier list of peoples, viz., that given in the Padma Purana of Ravisena (675 A.D.), another Jain classicSuhma, Anga, Magadha, Vanga. Podana, Lokākṣanagara Lampaka-viṣaya, Bhāṣakuntala, Kalambu, Nandin, Nandana, Simhala, Śalabha, Anala, Caula, Bhima, Bhutarava, Purakheta, Matamba, Bhiru, Yavana, Kakṣa, Caru, Trijata, Nața, Śaka, Kerala, Nepāla, Mälava, Arula, Sarvara, Vṛṣāna, Vaidya-Kaśmīra, Hidimba, Avaṣṭa, Barbara, Triśira, Parasaila, Gausila, Uśīnara, Suryaraka, Sanarta, Khasa, Vindhya, Sikhapada, Mekhala, Śūrasena, Bählika, Ulūka, Kosala, Dari, Gandhāra, Sauvira, Puri, Kauvera, Kohara, Andhra, Kāla, Kalinga (101.69, 77-79, 81-84). [Here also there mistakes-Vaidya-Caidya, Süryaraka Sürpāraka, Sanarta= Anarta, Mekhala= Mekala, etc.-Ed.]. Another list given in the Adipurāna of Jinasena I, a work completed a few years after the Harivamsa is also reproduced below-Sukosala, Avanti, Pundra, Aśmaka, Ramyaka, Kuru, Kāśī, Kalinga, Anga, Vanga, Suhma, Samudraka, Kāśmira, Uśīnara, Anarta, Vatsa, Pañcāla, Mälava, Daśārņa, Kaccha, Magadha, Vidarbha, Kuru-jangala, Karahața, Mahārāṣṭra, Surāṣṭra, Abhira, Konkaņa, Vanavāsa, Andhra, Karṇāta, Kosala, Cola, Kerala, Dārväbhisära, Sauvira, Sürasena, Aparantaka, Videha, Sindhu, Gandhara, Yavana, Cedi, Pallava, Kamboja, Āraṭṭa, Valhika, Turaşka, Śaka, Kekaya, (16.152-6). Names of a few other peoples mentioned elsewhere of the same work are-Madra, Gauda (29.41), Trikalinga (29.79), Pandya, Antara-Pandya, Kūța, Olika, Mahisa, Punnāga, Prātana, Kamekura (29.79-80).
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