Aspect of Jainology Part 3 Pandita Dalsukh Malvaniya

Author(s): M A Dhaky, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 393

THE ISI HASIYAI AND PALI BHDDHIST TEXTS-A STUDY C. S. Upasak
The Isibhāsiyai (Rşibhāṣitāni : c. 2nd-1st cent B. C.) is the only Prakṛta Jaina text which incorporates the sayings of some 44 (or 45) seers most of whom, from the later Jaina standpoint, are definitely heretics, or at best are those that belonged to contemporary non-Jaina religious folds. These saints are designated as 'Isi' (Rși, though not in the same connotation as given in the Brahmanical texts), in this ancient Jaina work. They, moreover, and invariably, are called 'Araha' (Arhat), the two honorotic terms are used there as synonyms. "Isi' is a person gifted with special spiritual powers of insight and intuition, a holy man, an anchorite. In Pali Buddhist texts, 'Isi' occurs as a synonym of "Paccekabuddha," and probably was used in the same sense as implied in the Jaina texts. Paccekabuddha attains 'enlightenment' by himself, without any guidance or help. of a teacher like the Buddha, but does not indulge in proclaiming and propaga. ting the Truth' and so does not found his 'Sangha' or sect and hence had no following. It appears that, in the Buddhist texts, the Buddha, the Paccekabuddha and the Arhat as terms were somewhat more frequently employed than in the Jaina texts where the term muni became popular for a saint, although all these. terms were known to both the branches of the Sramanic culture. Undoubtedly, the term Paccekabuddha has been exclusively used by the Buddhists in early times, the Jainas seemingly adopted it later. Buddhist tradition the Paccekabuddha was held in very high esteem and is mentioned along with the Buddha and the Arhat. During the Kuşana period, in the early centuries of the Christian era, when the worship of the Buddha became more popular by his thorough deification, the worship of Paccekabuddha also became popular. In the Taxila Scroll Inscription of a Kuşana king (year 136 / A, D. 79), exhumed from Dharmarajika stupa along with the relics of the Buddha, the worship of Paccekabuddha is recorded together with the Buddha and the Arhat".
The Isibhāsiyai is a text in which, as the later Jaina commentaries explain (pointed out also by Walther Schubring), the term 'Isi' is used in the sense of Pratyekabuddha, although in the text the term Pratyekabuddha never figures; instead, we largely find Arahat, and sometimes not even 'Isi' for a saint.
For instance, Satiputta (No. 38) is designated as Buddha (Satiputtena Buddhena Arahata buitam). At most of the places in the Isibhäsiai, the assertions of the saints. are described as....arahata isinä buitam, thus specifically calling them both 'Isi' and Arahata (not Pratyekabuddha). The text also refers to an Arahata and 'Isi (No. 21) who is described as taruna (young) in age and who was the son of a middle