Jainism in North India

SR No.: 011067
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Chimanlal J Shah
Publisher: Longmans Green and Compny London
Publication Year: 1932
Total Pages: 66
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

Page 181

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA old age tried to starve himself to death like a true Jaina saint 1 Tradition represents the " wicked minister" as having repented and retired to "Shookul Tartha," on the banks of the Narbada, where he died, and Candragupta is also supposed to have accompanied him. " Shookul Tirtha " is the exact equivalent of "Belgola," which in Kanaiese means " white pond." In the inscriptions it is also called was prck, which means " white lake". This coincidence, even if it were merely accidental, is certainly significant. Apart from minor details, this coincides with the opinion of Rhys Davids that "the linguistic and epigraphical evidence so far available confirms in many respects the general reliability of traditions current amongst the Jainas" He has also remarked : "It is certain that in the extant priestly Literature Candragupta is completely ignored for about ten centuries" 4 It seems not a little likely that this silence of Brahmanical writers was due in no small measure to the Mauryan Emperor's acceptance of the Jaina religion towards the end of his earthly career. Finally, taking the successors of Candragupta, we have before us Bindusara, Asoka, Kunala and Samprati, according to the Jama tradition. As with the Sarsunagas and the Nandas so also in the case of the Mauryas there are differences and discrepancies in the lists put forth by various traditions. However, as far as Asoka is concerned there is no trouble. It is agreed to by all that Candragupta left behind him his son and successor, Bindusara, who was in turn followed by his son Asoka As to the relations of these two Mauryas with the Jainas this much is certain, that their literary traditions are not so eloquent about them as is the case with their predecessor Candragupta and their successor Samprati. Nevertheless there are grounds before us to infer that both of them must have been favourably inclined towards the Jaina church. About Bindusara, the predecessor of Asoka, we know practically little beyond the fact that he sent an embassy to Antiochos Soter Cf Jacobi, opal, 62, Jolly, Arthasastra of Kattilya, Int , pp 10-11 For the mutual relations between the Arthasastra and Jama literature see abrd ,p 10 We ATC seen that the Jamna tradition puts Canakya's father as supposed to have been Brahman and a devout Jam This looks like the Brahman-Christians of our awy This means that Canakya's family was of Brahman ongin by birth or heritage, and Jan by faith To quote Edward Thomas "But though our king-maker was a Brahman, be was not necessarily, in the modern acceptation of the term. 'Brahmanist (Edward), op cit, pp 25-26 ? Cf Smith, op al, p 75, n 1. : CJ Narasimhachar, op cit, Int , p 1 Rhys Davids, Buddhist India, pp 184, 270 188