Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

SR No.: 006725
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
Publication Year: 1989
Total Pages: 170
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 27

The Parivrājakas
when he dies earth returns to the aggregate of earth, water to water, fire to fire, and air to air, while the senses vanish into space. Four men with the bier take up the corpse; they gossip (about the dead man) at the burning ground, (where) his bones turn the colour of a dove's wing, and his sacrifices end in ashes. They are fools who preach almsgiving, and those who maintain the existence (of immaterial categories) speak vain and lying nonsense. When the body dies both fool and wise alike are cut off and perish. They do not survive after death."45 The argument adduced above is a clear expression of materialism, and its author (i.e. Ajita Kesakambalin) must have been considered as the forerunner of the later Cārvākas. It is also called Lokāyatavāda. Tajjiyatacchariravāda held practically the same view with Nästikavāda only with this difference that while latter denies altogether the existence of the soul the former admits it, but the logical end of both the views would be exactly the same. 46
(d) Pakudha Kaccāvana whose theory is classified as both Akiriyavāda and Sässatavāda in the Brahmajala-sutta, was another Lokā. yata teachero7 advocating that good or bad deeds do not affect the elements which are eternal. Buddhaghoṣa states that Pakudha Kaccāyana did not use cold water, using always hot water. Even he did not wash, when hot water was not available. If he crossed a stream he would consider it as a sin, and would make expiation by constructing a mound of earth. According to Pakudha Kaccāyana, the elementary categories, seven in number, are neither made nor ordered, neither caused nor constructed; they are barren, as firm as mountains, as stable as pillars. They neither move nor develop; they do not injure one another, and one has no effect on the joy, or on the sorrow, or on the joy and sorrow of another. "What are the seven? The bodies of earth, of water, of fire, and of air, and joy and sorrow, with life as the seventh.”:49 No man slays or causes to slay, hears or causes to hear, knows or causes to know. Even if a man cleaves another's head with a sharp sword. he does not take life, for the sword-cut merely passes through the seven elements.50
(e) Nigantha Nātaputta: The teaching ascribed to Nigantha Nātaputta is rather vague. On the basis of the Jaina canonical texts Jacobi51 has pointed out that while it is not an accurate description of the Jaina creed it contains nothing alien to it. We may accept the identification of Nigamsha with Vardhamana