Suvas 1939 06 Pustak 01 Ank 12

SR No.: 034624
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Suvas Karyalay
Publisher: Suvas Karyalay
Publication Year: 1939
Total Pages: 70
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Suvas, & India
File Size: 5 MB

Page 66

૨૦. સુધાસ ચૈત્ર, ૧૯પ
became a nun. The descendants of Devpal were known as kings of the "Pal" dynasty, which ruled wisely over Nepal for a long time.** Devpal himeself was a staunch Jain. Like Pryadrsin, he had also spared no pains to spread Jainism into all corners of the country and had got numerous monasteries, temples and Vihāras (now known as Upasraya built. Both he and Priyadarsin had sent missionaries to distant countries for the spread of Jainism. These missionaries (Dhamma-mahāmātras) were not quite the Jaina monks, who renounce the world and hence preached the gospel of Jainism imperfectly. The result was that though the people in the countries which they visited, grasped the essential principles of Jainism, yet their beliefs, opinions, and religious rites differed in many ways from those preached in Jainism proper. Hence even in Nepal proper, though people continued to follow Jainism, their Jainism differed in many ways from the original faith. (Chap. I, Part III; see details about Buddhism). In the course of time, temples to gods like Sun and Siva were erected65 and thus we see the results of imperfect66 preaching.
Upto this time Patliputra was the capital of Magadh. The Mauryan empire having spread itslf almost throughout the whole of India, it was not found advisable to have the seat of the
(63) She must have become a nun after the death of her husband.
(64) Bh. P. R. Bh. II, pp. 101:-Devpal-better it is to say, Samprati), founded Lalitapattan as the capital of Nepal. Its ruins can be seen near the modern capital, Khatamandu. Lilitapattan was also called Devpattan from the bame of its founder. (E. H. I. 3rd edi. pp. 162).
Aśoka, Smith, pp. 77:-"Lalitapattan 2 miles S. E. of Khatamandu was laid out by king Asoka, as the capital of Nepal."
Ibid pp. 78:-"Asoka was accompanied in his pilgrimage (in Nepal) by his daughter Charumati, the wife of a kṣatriya named Devpal: both the husband and the wife settled in Nepal near the holy shrine of Pasupati where they founded and peopled Devpaṭṭan."
(65) This will make it clear that the original religion of the Nepalese was Jainism, though a little perverted (cf. f. n. no. 66 below).
(66) Chap. I part III; Buddha himself was first a Jaina monk and hence the similarities between Buddhism and Jainism.