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 65

BRHAT-KATHAKOSA:
next verse (VI. 36) Yasodhara is mentioned as a typical Dänapati. The Bhagavati Arādhanā of Sivārya, though it deals mainly with the ascetic discipline on the eve of a monk's death, contains many legendary references which are already developed, as we shall see below, into Kathănakas collected in the Kathākośas of Harișeņa, Prabhācandra etc. The text refers to many eminent personalities who deserve to be remembered on account of their religious piety, sinful acts and ascetic heroism or forbearance with their consequences here and elsewhere. Many of the names are common with the Païņņas, and some of them are mentioned in almost identical verses.
On account of almost identical contents dealing with monastic life, common verses showing minor changes of verbal and dialectal nature, and similar method of exposition and presentation, the conclusion apr be inevitable that texts like the Bhagavati Arādhanā, Mülācāra, Nijjuttis (like Avassaya, Pinda etc.) and Païņņas (like the Maranasamāhi, Bhatta. parinnā etc.), in some portions at least, go back to a common source that was once accepted as authoritative both by the Digambaras and Svetāmbaras. The dialectal and verbal differences rule out the possibility of mutua borrowing at a later date after the texts were fixed in writing; in fact, they clearly indicate how the same verse, without the contents being affected, has been subjected to minor changes in course of oral transmission. The preservation of identical broad outlines of contents only goes to confirm the authenticity of the early aina tradition and the fidelity with which it has been handed down to this day. Behind the differences, elaborated in later days, between the Svetāmbaras and Digambaras, a dispassionate study reveals a solid and common back-ground of Jaina tradition : ascetic ideals are fundamentally the same in spirit, and the same ascetic heroes are celebrated by them.
Among the early Digambara Srāvakācāras, the Ratnakarandaka of Samantabhadra mentions Anjanacora, Anantamati, Uddayana, Revati, Jinendrabhakta, Vārişeņa, Vişņu and Vajra to illustrate how the eight limbs of Samyaktya, niḥsankā etc., were worthily possessed by them respectively (I. 19-20). Then Mátanga, Dhanadeva, Vārişeņa, Nili and Taya are known for their perfect observance of the five Anuvratas; and Dhanaśrī, Satyaghoşa, Tāpasa, Ārakşaka and Smaśru-navanīta are noted for their five sins (III. 18.9). Lastly the names of Śrīşeņa, Vrşabhasena and Kaundesa are mentioned as typical donors (IV. 28). Vasunandi in his Uvåsayajjhayaņa illustrates the eight Angas of Samyaktva with almost the
1 These facts are noted in more details later, - 2 The Yaśastilakacampũ (Šaka 881), 6th Āśyāsa, also gives these stories. The
Dharmāmrta (in Kannada) of Nayasena (A. D. 1112) gives stories associated
with Samyaktva, Vratas etc. 3 I have used an edition which gives Prākrit text and Hindi translation. The
face page is gone; possibly it was published from Devaband by Babu Surajabhan Vakil.