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 285

JAINISMI IN NORTH INDIA texts, the Avaradasao. The eighth section of this last-mentioned text is long known as the Kalpa-Sutra of Bhadrabahu. It is formed of the entire work called Kalpa-Sutrame of the entire work of this name in its three parts; however Jacobi and others rightly hold that in reality only the last the third) section, which is called "Samacari" -.e. rules for Yatis - "Comprised by the name Paryushana Kalpa," belongs to this place, and that it alone could claim, together with the remaining Ayaradasao, to be ascribed to Bhadrabahu, As to the contents of the Kalpa-Sutra of Bhadrabahu we need not enter into any more details here We have referred to it more than once in connection with the life-history of Mahavira, with that of his twenty-three predecessors, with the successors of Mahavira, the pontiffs of the Jaina church, and in connection with the rules and prescriptions to be observed by Yatis. With these few remarks about the Chedasutras we shall next deal briefly with the Mulasutras and the two solitary texts which form the last two groups of the Jains canon Taking first the Mulasutras, we find that the significance of this title of a group of the Jaina canon is rather doubtful In ordinary parlance, however, it would mean original text, but it is bkely, according to Dr Charpentier, that, like the Buddhists, the Jainas also may have used Mula in the sense of " original text," and that too merely to denote the actual words of Mahavira himself. As to the contents of these Sutras the first three also, from a literary standpoint, are of great importance of these the Uttaradhyayana, the first in the last, with its specimens of old ascetic poetry, belongs to the most precious part of the canon. It consists of direct ordinances in reference to a correct course of life, especially of the clergy, and of rectals and parables allustrating this life According to the opinion of the old authorities summarised by Jacobi the aim of the text is "to instruct a young monk in bis principal duties, to commend an ascetic life by precepts and examples, to warn him against the dangers in his spiritual career, and to give some theoretical Information " 8 Much of the contents, according to modern authorities on Jaina literature, makes upon us the impression of great antiquity, 1 Jacobi, Kalpa-Satra, pp 22-23, Winternitz, op and local , Weber, op cit, P 21. * Charpentier, op at, Int , p 82 . Jacobi, S.BE , xly, Int, P TUIS 234