Jinasena and his Political philosophy

SR No.: 250194
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rajmal Jain
Publisher: Z_Kesarimalji_Surana_Abhinandan_Granth_012044.pdf
Publication Year: 1982
Total Pages: 7
Language: English
Classification: Article & Philosophy
File Size: 791 KB

Page 7

* 32 Karmayogi Sri Kesarimalji Surana Abhinandana Grantha : Seventh Part of the race.)? (2) Matyanupalana (preservation of understanding), (3) Atmanupalana (protection or preservation of self), (4) Prajanupalan, (protection of the subjects) and (5) Samanjasatva (propriety). Kulanupalana is preservation of the purity of the race by the king by being careful in accepting offering (remains of these) and garlands etc., from people including Sadhus of other faiths lest they be poisoned etc. They can accept such things from a Muni because Rajarsi and Parmarsi are cognate. They are so because the first lord created the ksatriya class, his own class, first for the protection of people with conviction that in karmabhumi people will need protection and so there should be others to protect them. Matyanupalana means the knowledge of what is good for the king in this and the other world. This can be achieved by destroying avidya which is nothing but false knowledge (mithya-Inana). Presevation of the self (atmanupalana) can be achieved by resort to dharma as it protects one from all sorts of troubles. Rajya is an evil because even the son and real brothers are constantly conspiring against the king. It constantly breeds evils and there is hardly an iota of happiness. The king should at least in his last days take recourse to dharma and meditate on the true nature of his soul etc., lest he dies of poison, arms etc. The fundamental duty of a king is prajanupalana or protection of the people. This he should do in the manner of a cowherd. He should resort to anurupadanda or mild punishment lest even the ministers turn against him. Propriety (samanjasatva) on the part of a king is protection of the good (sista) and control (nigraha) of the wicked. In doing so, he should not spare even the prince. The Ideal King Bharata was the embodiment of all virtues. He was Rajarsi according to Jinasena. He was. a pious man and was emulated by his subjects. It this way, we get the detailed and exhaustive description of Jaina polity in Jinasena's Adipurana. It discusses the political development from pre-historic times to the fully developed states and kingdom. He describes the cosmic process of evolution and denies the creator of universe as a special power i. e., God etc. So he also discards the notion of God-gifted kings. It is the special feature of Jinasena's political philosophy, which is according to Jaina tradition, found nowhere except the conviction of modern science. So it can be said that Jinasena's political philosophy is most scientific. 1 I am inclined to translate kula here as 'race'.-(The author) 2 (क) इत्यादिराजं तत्सम्राट् अहो राजर्षिनामकम् / तत्सार्वभौममित्यस्य दिशासूच्छलितं यशः / / (ख) धर्मशीले महीपाले यान्ति तच्छीलतां प्रजाः / अताच्छील्यमतच्छोले यथाराजा तथाप्रजाः // (anteger xp/?44) (afegator Yf/Eu)