________________
26
Arhat Pārsva and Dharanendra Nexus
karmas (without naming them) and the five universal verities (pañcāstikāyas, also without further elucidation). The well-known principal doctrines of the Nirgranthadarśana are thus rooted in the teachings of Pārśva as deducible from the notices in the Rşibbāșitāni. However, nothing here is said about his life.
In the Sūtrakrta Book II (c. 3rd century B.C.-1st century A.D..), the Vyākhyāprajñapti, the Rājaprasenīya (c. 1st century-3rd century A.D.), the jñātädharmakathā (c. 2nd3rd century A.D.) and the Acara Book II (c. 1st century A.D.) refer to the followers of Pārsva; since I have discussed the concerned particulars elsewhere, I here shall omit enlarging upon this subject.
Mention of some of the particulars of Pārsva's life story is first found in the "Jinacaritra" section of the famous Paryusaņā kalpa (compiled c. A.D. 503/516); but, there too, we do not find the biographical narrative as such but only the reckoning of a few basic personal particulars. In point of fact, in the Paryuşaņā-kalpa, the chapter concerning the lives of the 24 Tirthařkaras were added later, the time by which the concept of the 24 Tirthankaras was a settled fact, (The Paryusaņā kalpa, which actually is an elaboration of a small section of the Daśāśruta-skandha olim Acaraprakalpa, is traditionally held to have been written by Arya Bhadrabahu, 170 years after the Nirvana of Mahāvīra (about 300 B.C.). In the Paryusaņā-kalpa the following facts about Pārsva are noted: 1. For his five kalyānakasauspicious occasions such as cyavana (transmigra
tion for taking the new birth), janma (birth), niskramana (renunciation), kevala (omniscience), and nirvana (liberation) — Viśākhā is noted as the constellation for each of the kalyānaka-occasion. The following dates are given for the above-mentioned five Kalyānakas: (1) Cyavana - Caitra Krsna 4 in the womb of Vāmā, the consort of Aśvasena, king of Vārāṇasī; (2) Janma — Pausa Kysna 10; (3) Diksă - after 30 years in Pausa, Kysna 11 with 300 other persons; (4) Kevala – Caitra Krsna , 4; and (5) Nirvana -- at the age of 100 years on Śrāvana sukla 8. According to non-āgamic notices, Pārśva endured the upasargas or sufferings but whether through mortal or divine agency is not mentioned though on the basis of the pre-medieval and medieval narrative literature it may be inferred that the tormentations inflicted by Kamatha probably were implied. Names of his eight ganadharas or chief apostles have been mentioned. The number of his disciples - friars and nuns — is mentioned. Some 1230 years had passed since his nirvana when the "Jina-caritra" was codified. (This would correspond to 813 B.C. according to the tradition of 527
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
