Bruhat Katha kosha

SR No.: 016060
Original Sutra Author: Harishen Acharya
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1943
Total Pages: 566
Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit
Classification: Dictionary & Dictionary
File Size: 16 MB

Page 57

26
BRHAT-KATHAKOŚA
of the early capitalix Jaina legends about ascetic heroes: some of the names of these outstanding persons are known to us from other sources. The list includes twelve Cakravartins, four Pratyekabuddhas and other kings like Udāyana, Kaśīrāja, Vijaya and Mahābala. Some of the legends like that of Miyāputta (chap. XIX) give a nice occasion for the text to present a good deal of didactic instruction, moral exhortation and dogmatic details.
Coming to the Païņņas, some of them are full of references to stories about pious persons and ascetic heroes'. There was a nun Pupphacūla at Poyanapura ; her religious preceptor was Anniyāutta; while crossing the river Ganges he was thrown off from the boat; and he died piously and attained the highest object (S. 56-57). Amayaghosa of Kāyandi abdicated the throne for his son and toured all over the earth practising religion after mastering the scripture; when he returned to the metropolis, Caņdavega wounded his body; and when his limbs were being cut, he died and attained the highest object (S. 76-78). Avanti Sukumala of Ujjayani heard one evening the description of Nalini-vimāna, was reminded of heaven, entered the ascetic order, and sat in steady meditation under a bamboo grove in a lonely corner of the cemetery. His body was being dragged and bitten piteously by a carnivorous jackal for three days. He was in different, firm like the mountain and tolerated the agony. When he died piously and attained the highest object, gods showered scented water with flowers; and to this day we have the pond Gandhavati there (Bh. 160, M. 435-39 and S. 65-66). Ilāputta is an example of non-attach. ment for the world (M. 483). King Vesamaņadāsa of Kunāla had a heretical minister Rittha by name. There was a learned preceptor Usahasena who had a well-read pupil in Sihaseña. Being defeated in a debate, that cruel Rittha set Usahasena on fire one evening : as he was being burnt, he died piously and attained the highest object (S. 81-84). Kandariya and Puņdariya”, who were destined respectively for lower and upper births, go to Anuttara region by their firm attitude for a day (M. 637). Even after staying with friends, the soul is all alone when quitting the body like Kanha at the time of his death. Kanha had conquered anger by forbearance (M. 377, 496-97). The monk Kattiya (the son of king Aggi), physically dirty yet endowed with virtues, when he was wandering for food in the town of Rohidaya, was struck with a javelin by Kuñca. Enduring that agony he quitted the body piously and attained the highest object (S. 67-69, Bh. 160A noted by Kamptz). The monk Kālavesiya, the son of Jiyasattu of Mathurā, is said to have been eaten by a jackal in his illness on
1 Taking into consideration the crucial names, an attempt is made here to arrange
them alphabetically. The references are to the Āgamodaya Samiti ed., Bombay 1927. See also Über die vom Sterbefasten handelnden ältern Pāiņņa des Jaina-Kanons by Kurt von Kamptz, Hamburg 1929. In this section Bh. =
Bhattaparinnā, M.- Maranasa māhi, S.=Santhāraga. 2 Cf. Nāyādhammakahāo XX and see above, p. 21. 3 Cf. Antagadadasão, 5th Varga, para 81.