Jainism Some Essays

SR No.: 001374
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A S Gopani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 156
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Philosophy
File Size: 11 MB

Page 104

Bhagavan Mahavira
[ 97
Bhikṣu can be called a Brahmin or Māhaṇa. In this sense the Lord may have been called a Mahaṇa.
Now let us use what information we get from the Jalna literature about the clan of the Lord and the Naya kula. It is certain that amongst the Vedic this Nāya kula wos not well known. Hence we find its mention very rare in the Vedic Purāņas.2
and it is surprising to note that even in Jaina literature the Nayavaṁśa is given the prominent place in later times. An attempt is made to relate it with the famous Ikṣvākuvaṁsa or to separate it from the same. This shows that the authors were not certain about the real position of the clan Naya.
There are two clear tradition regarding the prominent Vamsas. One is represented by Jaina Canonical literature and its Niryukti etc. and other is of the Jaina Purāņas. This will be clear from the following table :
Avasyaka Niryukti. (193)
Višeṣāvasyaka. (1610, 1829)
Bhagavati. (20.8)
(9. 33)3 Sthānanga. (497)
Prajñāpanā (104)
Kalpasūtra (17) Brhaikalpa (3265)
Paumacariya5
Ugga
29
Ikkhāga
Bhoga
39
33
""
27
""
Soma
Rāṇṇa
X
29
""
Vijjāhara
Khattiya
x
"
:>
<<These constituted the retinue of Rsabha.
X
X
Ikkhga: Rakkhasa
Vānara
: Harivansa
Naya, Koravva Harivamsp. x x x x * ×
33
27
X
X
وو
X
13
said
that Ikkhaga Vamsa began with
In the Avasyakaniryukti it is Rṣabha (181). So after Niryukti we find it mentioned as an important Vamsa in Jaina literature but question is-if it is a separate Vaṁśa, what is the relation between it and the Nayakula ? The authors are not unanimous about the answer. In Bhagavati etc. and even in Viseṣāvaśyaka, as we have seen, two are separately mentioned. But Umaswati and other commentators like Abhayadeva (o 153) are of the opinion that Naya is a branch of the
x Bhaḍa