Karkanda Chariu

SR No.: 034918
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kankamar Muni
Publisher: Karanja Jain Publication
Publication Year: 1934
Total Pages: 364
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari
File Size: 33 MB

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as similarly described in both. The story also occurs in the Kathā -sarit-sāgara X, 3 and must have been present in Gundhya's Brihat-Kathā from where Bāna borrowed his theme. The method of escape of the parrot, however, is different in the present work. While the parrot in Kādambari was yet very young and escaped by the oversight of the fowlers, our parrot was more grown up and wise and showed a great skill in planning not only its own escape but of the whole pack. For this part of his story the author probably drew his inspiration from the story of the deer and the crow in the Hitopadeśa where the latter saved the former by a similar plan. The author also seems to have had in his mind the story of the pigeon-king Citragrira in the Pancatantra. The story of Sumitrāl told by the sage to the mother of Karakanda is a fanciful fairy tale very much similar to the story of 'atsarāja occurring in Bhāracandra Suri's Sāntinātha-carita which belongs to a much later date.2 These nine stories together constitute about one-fourth of the whole book.
POPULARITY OF THE HERO
The hero of this work has the unique distinction of being reconized as a saint in the hierarchy of Buddhism as well as Jainism. He is the first of the four Pratyekabuddhas, the other three being Durmukha, Nami and Naggai. To the Bauddhas, a Pratyeka-buddha (Pali-Paccekabuddha ) meant one enlightened by himself, who attains supreme insight, but dies without proclaiming the truth to the world. He has his hair and beard shaved, is dressed in yellow robes, is detached from all family and tribal connections and dwells in the Nandamūla cave on thơ Himālayas. The same four Pratyeka-luddhas are recognized by the Svetämbara Jainas in their canonical books. 5 The Digambaras have also reconized them as wor
1. X, 18-22
2. Hindi translation, Calcutta, 1924, p. 227. 3. Dr. Jarl Charpentier, in his book Paccekabuddhageschichten, Upsala, 1908, has collected many references to Karakanda and other names associated with him. Besides the Karandu Jataka ( see Appendix A), le mentions the Dadhivahana Jataka (No. 186 ) which ig only vaguely connected with Karakanda through the name of his father. In bis attempt to find some Brahmanic parallel also, the author, following up the clue furnished by Devendra's story (see Appendix B), collects any epic aud Pauranic mentions of the Candalas of Vatadhana who became Brahmanas. But he has failed to find out any real recognition of Karakanda in the Brahmanic literature.
4. Majjhima Nikaya III, 86; Samyatta Nikaya I, 92; Jataka 408, for which see Appendix A. 5. Uttaradhyayana Sntra XVIII, 46-47.
करकण्ड् कलिंगेसु पंचालेमु य दुम्मुहो । नमी राया विदेहेसु गन्धारेसु य नगई ॥ एए नरिन्दवसभा निवसन्ता जिणसाणणे । पुत्ते रखे ठवेजणं सामग्णे पग्जुवद्विया ॥