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

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Jainism
(6) Birth :
It is reported that the Buddha was in full consciousness during his transfer from the divine life to the human life. Similar is the case with Mahavira.
Authors of both the stories are of the opinion that the Buddha and the Tirthankara should be born in some respected royal family. The Buddha while in heaven found out for himself the family of Ksatriyas worthy of his birth. Though it is said that in the opinion of the Buddha both the Brahmin and the Ksatriya families were worthy of the birth of a Buddha, the Buddha was not satisfied with any of the Brahmin families, which existed at that time, and hence he himself chose the Kşatriya family for his birth.
As regards Mahavira it is said by the Svetāmbara writers that first he was conceived by a Brahmin lady named Devānanda but Indra thought that birth of a Tirthankara should not take place in a Brāhmin family as the Brahmin caste was considered to be lower than the Kșatriya caste. So Indra got the embryo removed from the Brahmin lady and got it put in a Ksatriya lady named Trisalā.
We can conclude from both the stories that there was a conflict between the Brahmins and the Ksatriyas and the writers favoured the Ksatriyas and their favour towards Ksatriyas is reflected in these stories. Here we should remember that these two great men denounced the Vedas. And the Brahmins were the custodians of the Vedas. So, it was but natural for them to denounce the Brahmins. However, it should be borne in mind that this antagonism was not deep-rooted, and we find that all the chief disciples of the Mab&vira were Brahmins, and they are described as coming from respectable families. (7) Name :
Not all the stories agree about the name of the Buddha. Some have it as Siddhārtha while the others have Sarvarthasiddha. But one thing is certain that on account of the Buddha's birth the family of Suddhodana became prosperous in every respect, and so the name Siddhārtha or Sarvārthasiddha was given to the Buddha.
Similar is the case with Mahāvira. On account of his birth the Ksatriya Siddhartha's property increased tremendously. So the name Vardhamana was given to him. Here we should note the similarity between the name of the Buddha and that of the father of Mahāvira. Both are called Siddhārtha. (8) Schooling :
Writers of both the stories are of the opinion that for both of them there was no need of going to school. They have written that their teachers were astonished to find in them the type of knowledge which the teachers