Jain Journal 1983 10

SR No.: 520072
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 35
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 19

OCTOBER, 1983
Magadha is regarded by both Katyāyana Śrauta Sutra and Latyāyana Srauta Sutra as the main centre of the Vratyas and their culture. But this region was held in contempt by the Vedic Aryans. According to them, Magadha,67 Anga, etc. were considered as impure lands of the Non-Aryans lying at the outer land of the Aryan territory (i.e. old Aryavarta).
59
It should be noted in this connection that Magadha was intimately associated with the Ajivikas,68 the Bauddhas69 and the Jainas70 and their sramanic culture at a certain period of ancient India as it is evidenced by the ascetic life and activity of Gosala Mankhaliputra, the Ajivika leader, and Ajivika caves of Barbar hills, the Buddha's attainment of Bodhi and his religious activity and that of Mahavira in this region.
No Vedic followers liked to maintain the relation with the Vratya culture at later periods of Indian civilization when they consolidated their position in the social life of Aryavarta, probably due to its anti-Vedic Sramanic aspect prevailing in a land beyond the Aryandom among the non-Vedic people, as is clearly indicated by the Vişnu-purāņa11 in its reference to Magadha's association with the Vratya culture.
The Cult of the Vratyas
It appears from the study of the evidences regarding the identity of the Vratyas that they were racially a different people from the Vedic Aryans.72 Actually speaking, Vratya is the name of a tribe representing
65 KSS, XII. 4.24.
66 LSS, VII. 6.28.
67 AV, V. 22. 14. ; JBORS-XXIV, pt. 3, pp. 107-8.
68 See Bhagavati, 15th Sataka; Ajivika caves at Barbara Hills donated by King Dasaratha.
69 The Buddha attained Bodhi at Gaya which is in Magadha. Rajagrha and Nalanda, the two main centres of the religious activities of the Buddhists are lying in Magadha.
70 Mahavira passed some parts of his ascetic life at Nalanda in Magadha. His religious activities centred much at Rajagrha in Magadha as evidenced by the Bhagavati Sutra that he appeared there more than 60 times to deliver his religious sermons to the people.
71 magadhayam
visvasphatika-samjno'anyan
varnan karisyati...saurastravanti
sudranarvuda marubhumi-visayamsca vratya dvijabhira-sudradyah bhoksayanti sindha tatadarvikovim-candrabhaga kashmira-visayan vratyo' mlecchadayah sudra bhoksyanti, Visnupurana, 4. 24. 18, p. 585.
72 Some Aspects of Ancient Indian Culture, pp. 41-42.