Yasastilaka and Indian Culture

SR No.: 001609
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 566
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Story, Literature, & Culture
File Size: 16 MB

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130
YASASTILAKA AND INDIAN CULTURE
possesses the Jewel of Right Faith, and is endowed with Right Conduct, and devoted to holy meditation.' (1. 139-40).
Without disparaging Somadeva's picture of the fortitude and equanimity of the young Jaina munis, we may here refer to the remarkable story of the young Buddhist novice Adhimutta in the Theragātha (705 ff.), which depicts his dauntless courage and philosophic calm when he is seized by highwaymen as a suitable offering to their deity, apparently of the same type as the Caņdamāri figuring in our romance. Adhimutta declares, for example,
This body irketh me; no seeker I To live. This mortal frame will broken be, And ne'er another from it be reborn. Your business with my body, come, that do E'en as ye will; and not on that account
Will hatred or affection rise in me.
The attack on Vedic and Smārta rites involving animal sacrifices occurs chiefly in the controversial dialogue between Yasodhara and mother, analysed elsewhere.” The Jaina condemnation of animal sacrifices is similar to that of the Buddhists, and reminds one of the attacks on Pagan sacrifices found in the writings of the Christian apologists of the second century such as Justin, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Tatian, and Arnobius (end of the third century) and others. Arnobius, for example, says: "Lastly, what pleasure is it to take delight in the slaughter of harmless creatures, ............ to see rivers of blood, the life fleeing away with the blood ............? Will any one believe that the gods, who are kind, beneficent and gentle, are delighted and filled with joy by the slaughter of cattle, if ever they fall and expire pitiably before their altars ?”! Similar sentiments are found in Yasastilaka, Book IV and other anti-Brahmanical writings. Arnobius goes on to say:"..............is that foul smell, then, which is given forth and emitted by burning hides, by bones, by bristles, ...............(is that) a favour and an honour to the deity?" This sounds like Somadeva's line (Book IV, p. 109):
सुधान्धसः स्वर्गसुखोचिताङ्गाः खादन्ति किं वह्निगतं निलिम्पाः । 1 Psalms of the Early Buddhists 11. Trang. by Mrs. Rhys Davids, p. 293. 2 See Chap. XII. 3 Details in Lietzmann: Christliche Literatur : Croiset: Histoire de la Litterature
Grecque, Vol. V, p. 727 ff.; Schanz: Geschichte der Römischen Litteratur, Vol. III,
p. 245 ff.) 3rd ed.); and Puech: Histoire de la Littérature Grecque Chrétienne. 4 The Seven Books of Arnobius Adver 8448 Gontos VII. 4 ( Ante-nicon Library).
5 See Chapters XII and XIII.