History of Canonical Literature of Jainas

SR No.: 006541
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hiralal R Kapadia, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 322
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & History
File Size: 17 MB

Page 176

THE EXTANT AGAMAS OF THE JAINAS
Ajjhayana XXII1 is a dialogue between Rathanemi, an elder brother of Lord Neminatha, and Rājīmati. The former, though a Muni, makes an indecent offer to the latter, a nun. Thereupon this nun admonishes him and makes him steady in his asceticism.
Ajjhayana XXIII furnishes us with a dialogue between Gautama, the 1st Gaṇadhara of Lord Mahāvīra, and Keśin, a learned follower of Lord Pārsva.2 The former was asked by the latter as to how he reconciled the five mahāvratas of Lord Mahāvīra with the caujjama dhamma of Lord Parsva, and further, how he interpreted the acelakatva propounded by Lord Mahāvīra with sacelakatva of Lord Parsva. Both these points were satisfactorily explained by Gautama. Thereupon Kesin asked him several riddles pertaining to Jainism, and these, too, were beautifully answered. These riddles may remind one of the Brahmodyas.
3Ajjhayana XXV is a dialogue between Jayaghosa Muni and Vijayaghosa, a Brāhmaṇa engaged in performing sacrifice. The former
1 Herein it is mentioned that Krsna is a son of Vasudeva, and Neminatha, that of Samudravijaya, a brother of Vasudeva. As regards Rājīmatī it is said that she was the daughter of Ugrasena, and sister of Kamsa and was betrothed to Lord Neminatha. All these relations with some more may be presented as under:
2
3
Samudravijaya
↓
Rathanemi
Śaurin ↓ Andhakavṛṣṇi ↓
Aristanemi
Vasudeva ↓
Yadu ↓ Śūra
↓
159
Suvira ↓ Bhojavṛṣṇi ↓
Ugrasena ↓
Balarama Vasudeva Kamsa (son of Rohini) (son of Devaki)
Kamsa had married Jīvayaśā, sister of Jarasandha.
He is said to have attained salvation 250 years before Lord Mahāvīra. In one of his previous births he is represented as King Suvarnabahu. This episode reminds one of the description of Dusyanta's seeing Śakuntala and her female friends given in Abhijñānaśākuntala (1)
This can be compared with Brahmana-vagga of Dhammapada.
Rājīmatī
Devaka
Devaki