Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

SR No.: 001597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 460
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Language
File Size: 22 MB

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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
It would appear like a paradox that by the 20th century A.D., when the Jaina thinkers, on one hand, had long before contributed so much in the field of Physics (say, with their atomic theory and principles of motion and rest etc.), and of biology (with the subtle nigoya etc.), and when Mahavíra-carya (850 A.D.) has already composed his unique mathematical treatise, the Ganitasārasamgraha, on the other hand, the Jaina narrators were still harping on such cosmographic concepts based on “debatable logic"* and free imagination, as picked up from contemporary or earlier cosmographical treatises and incorporated in their narratives. The reason for such a state of things is quite significant. The doctrine of Karman, The cycle of birth and death, the theory of retribution for one's deeds etc., in Jainism could not and cannot be better explained to the common laity than through the medium of such objectively cast narratives. I would like to illustrate this significance from a Jaina classical narrative in Kannada viz., the Vaddārādhane (C.925 A.D.), which is substantially based - - - on an early Prakrit commentary on the Mūlarādhanā of Sivakotyācārya (100 A.D.), and which stands in line with other such Kathakośas in Prakrit, Sanskrit and Apabhramsa.
In story No.19, the author, after giving an interesting life sketch of Acārya Vrsabhasena, tells us that the sage died the Jaina religious death and then was reborn as a god in the 14th kalpa called Prāṇata with the span of life of 20 Sāgaropama years. Similarly, according to Story No.:8, teacher Dharmaghoṣa led a pious life, died a similar death and was reborn as Acyutendra in the 16th kalpa with the life-span of 22 Sāgaropama years. Then according to Story No.1, Sukausalasvāmi died a similar death and was reborn as Ahamindra in the Sarvarthasiddhi with the life-span of 33 sagaropama years. Lastly, according to the same story the sage Siddhārtha died similar death, accomplished the Ratnatraya and attained salvation. Without elaborating the Jaina mctaphysical points, we can just say here that the higher degree of one's annihilation of Karman is related to one's being reborn in the