Samraicca Kaha Vol 01

SR No.: 010741
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hermann Jacobi
Publisher: Asiatic Society
Publication Year: 1926
Total Pages: 938
Language: Sanskrit, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 33 MB

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INTRODUCTION,
bhadra, apart from his comprehensive knowledge of Jains Lore, is of such a kind as was natural with a Brahman, but quite exceptional in any other case, before Jain literature had received a new impulse from brahmanical science. Mnnicandra (e) truly describes Haribhadra as one who had studied the eight grammarians, and was the leader of those whose understanding is hardened by the discussions connected with a philosophical systems.'' It is chiefly due to Haribhadra, as avill be explained in the next paragraph, that Sanskrit became the learned language of the Svetambaras and replaced Prakrit in several departments of their literature; he would, howevor, not have had this influence unless he was a perfect master of Sanskrit, an accomplishment which required the customary training of the Brahman. And as regards his mastery in philosophical discussion conducted in Sanskrit, it is such that his Anekantajayapatākā with Țiki favourably compares with any philosophical work of the same age.' It may be added that the story of Haribhadra's conversion, the main features of which are already contained in our oldest source fa), points algo to the same conclusion, that he was a Brahman by caste. . : Haribhadra by acknowledging the nun Yakini as his spiritual mother (dharmalo Yakinimahattarāsūnu) unmistakably ascribes to her his conversion to the true faith,' which may be regarded as a seconde dirth. How his conversion was brought about, has been recorded by tradition which, in this regard, is probably substantially trustwofthy; I shall first give, an abstract of the marrativo about this part of Haribhadra’s life in the PrabbAvakacarita (IX, V. 4-47), and discuss it afterwards.
Haribhadra was purohitwoof King Jitári in the town of Citra. kūta. He was so proud of his knowledge, that he proclaimed that he would become the pupil of anyone whose proposition he could not understand, and this vow was engraved on a golden plate ho wore on his belly.d11). Once a mast elephant having got loose and causing great havoo in the streets, Haribhadra flod
1 It is true that the Buddhists possessed many older works of a similar description, but the Buddhists had cotge into contact with brah
waioal schools of philosophy at a much earlier time, and many of their great writers have notoriously been Brahmans by casto.