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Aspects of Brahmanıcal Influence on the Faina Mythology
For, popular Hinduism centred round these gods alone and the ancient and mediacval Indian social and religious institutions in their broader contexts were overwhelmingly influenced by the cults of these divinities Under the circumstances, the Jaina authors, who were also leaders of their sold in their respective times, directed their attack against the high position to which these supreme gods were placed in the Brahmanical order. Thus, what they aimed at was not the denial of their existence but the refusal of their position as the supreme deities Accordingly the Jaina authors relegated Brahmā, Vişnu and Sida together with their sakııs or consorts to a subordinate rank before the Jinas whom they represented as the divinities par excellence. We, however, come across some scattered passages which do accept some of the Brahmanical traits of the trio almost in unmodified way
Brahma
In spite of the repudiation of the creation-theory, instances are many where Brahma's position as the crcator of the universe has been recognised? under various names, such as Vedhas, Vedhals, Sraşt! etc, all of which together with many others have been appropriated to the Jinas by different authors 8 He has also been taken to task for his lustful conduct Similarly, he has been reproached with lack of wisdom for appointing misfit persons as the regents of the eight quar. ters.10
Vişnu
Apart from his representation as the nine Vasudedas, 11 there are some passages in which some of Vışnu's Brahmanical incarnations find mention These are, for instance, Nara.
7. See my article Hindu Derties in the Jaina Putānas, Dr Satkarı
Mooketzi Felicitation Volume, 1969, PP 461-62 8 Vide chap I notes 68 72 and chap III, Sec II, notes 1-13 9 MP 39 129 10 UP 84 103-110 11 S D. Jha, Hindu Doties in the Jana Purānus, SMFV,P 463, beta 1.-2
