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

Page 380

13. JAINISM AND OTHER FAITHS
361
refuted). For if thereby perfection could be obtained, mechanics also, who use fire, would be liberated (1. 7. 14-18).”l. The same work condemns also the feeding of Brāhmaṇas (2. 6. 43, 44).
In regard to the Jaina attacks on Śrāddha, it is said that the present-day Jainas burn the dead, throw the ashes on the third day into a river, and even offer rice-balls to the crows on the tenth day, and feed relatives and caste-fellows on the twelfth and thirteenth days." These customs seem to have grown up in later times under Hindu influence, Somadeva, on the other hand, states in Yasastilaka, Book IV, that if the Pitrs have gone to earthly or celestial abodes, they can have no need of annual offerings of rice balls, which are actually eaten by Brāhmaṇas and crows, His statement may be compared with that of Jațā-Simhanandi in Varāngacarita 25. 64:
द्विजैश्च काकैयदि भुक्तमन्नं मृतान् पितृस्तर्पयते परत्र ।
पुरार्जितं तत् पितृभिर्विनष्टं शुभाशुभं तेन हि कारणेन ॥ The Jaina attack on Śrāddha reminds one of the satire of the Greek writer Lucian (second century A. D.) on the custom of making offerings to the dead. In his Charon, or the Inspectors, Charon the ferryman conveying souls to Hades exclaims What, they eat and drink, when their skulls are dry as tinder?.........I should be in a fine predicament, Hermes, and should have no end of trouble if I were obliged not only to bring them down but to bring them up to drink 1" 8
The group of stupid customs' mentioned by Somadeva in Yasastilaka VI. 4 and 10 reminds one of those enumerated in Lalitavistara, chap. 17, and described as being followed by the misguided adherents of the non-Buddhist sects. Somadeva's list has been reproduced elsewhere ;* that recorded in the Buddhist text is more comprehensive, and where there are resemblances provides additional details. Among later Jaina writers Hemacandra enumerates a large number of stupid customs' followed by diverse non-Jaina communities in his commentary on his Yogaśāstra 4, 102, and some of them are undoubtedly mentioned with reference to popular Brahmanism."
1 Jacobi : Jaina Sūtras, Part II, p. 294. 2 Sharma: Jainism and Karnataka Culture, p. 161. 3 Trans. in Loeb Classical Library. 4 See Chap. x. 5E.g., गूथाशिनीनां च गवां स्पर्शतः पूतमानिनाम् । जलादिखानमात्रेण पापशुद्धयभिधायिनाम् ।। वटाश्वत्थामलक्यादि
द्रुमपूजाविधायिनाम् । वह्रौ हुतेन हव्येन देवप्रीणनमानिनाम् ॥ भुवि गोदोहकरणाद् रिष्टशान्तिकमानिनाम् । योषिद्विड
FTATATATATATE! Verses 23-25, 46