International Journal Of Jaina Studies Vol 01 To 03 2005 To 2007

SR No.: 022773
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Peter Flugel
Publisher: Hindi Granth Karyalay
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 202
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 95

International Journal of Jaina Studies Vol. 1-3 (2005-2007) 86-145
A NOTE ON THE PĀSA TRADITION IN THE UNIVERSAL HISTORY OF THE
DIGAMBARAS AND ŚVETÂMBARAS
Guņabhadra, Mahāpurāņa, Utt. 73 (Pārsva)*
Willem B. Bollée*
in memory of A. N. Upadhye
The 9th century C.E. was one of vivid display of activity on the part of both Svetâmbara and Digambara authors of whom we possess works of, e.g., Śīlânka, Puspadanta, Jinasena and his pupil Gunabhadra. They all wrote a Universal History (mahā-purana) hagiography, that is, of the 24 Jinas, 12 Cakravartins (emperors) and 3 x 9 other heroes. The Digambara monks Jinasena and Gunabhadra composed their Sanskrit kāvva in two parts: the former, called Adipurāna, consists of 47 chapters (parvan), 42 of which were written by Jinasena and deal with the lives of the first Jina, Rşabha, and of the first emperor (cakravartin), Bharata. The other 5 and the 30 chapters of the latter part, the Uttarapurāna, were authored by Gunasena, who also wrote the Atmânuśāsana. As the Epilogue (Praśasti) tells us, in the rule of the Rāstrakūta King Krsna II Akālavarsa the final Trișastilaksana-mahāpurāna was dedicated on June 23rd 897 C.E. by Gunabhadra's pupil Lokasena (Glasenapp 1926: 331). The chapter on the life of Pāsa, or Pārsva, as the 23rd "fordmaker" (Tīrthakara or Tīrthakrt) is wrongly called in Sanskrit (see note 8 infra), is edited and translated below.
Pārsva is very popular in both Jain denominations,' to the extent that he not only had his place in the Universal Histories, but was also given separate hymnic
International Journal of Jaina Studies (Online) Vol. 3, No. 2 (2007) 1-60
* The author expresses his sincere gratitude to several colleagues for various suggestions, and Miss Andrea Polden for checking his English text. - In this treatise Jain texts were abbreviated as in Schubring 2000, Sanskrit texts as in Monier-Williams Dictionary, and Buddhist texts as in the Epilegomena zum Critical) P(āli) Dictionary) (Copenhagen, 1948).
"Until the present day". Acārya Mahāprajña says. "Pārsva is the most popular Tīrthakara among the Jains. One reason for this could be the greater austerity of Mahāvīra and his insistence on increased ascetism. Another reason for Pārsva's popularity could be that his name is associated with snake worship.
86