Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

Author(s): Shaktidhar Jha
Publisher: Bharat Bharti Bhandar

Page 25

Introduction
The importance of the Vidyadharas in the Purānic works can further be exhibited by the fact that almost all the Purānas, with the exception of the Adipurāna of Jinasena and the Pandavapurāņa of Subhacandra, include in their dynastic lists the Vidyadharas as a distinct race, and give its genealogical accounts in great detail and of the nine Pratwāsudevas28 the first eight are set forth as the descendants of Vidyādhara race
Among the classical Sanskrit poets of distinction, mention may be made of Kalıdāsa, Bhärav , Bana, Harsa and Māgha, all of whom have been relied upon more or less for the portrayal of various situations, sentiments and feelings Above all, the influence of the works of these poets is pre-eminently manifest on the sections devoted to the poetical descriptions of the material world in its manifold aspects These are, for example, the majestic mountains, impenetrable forests and fertile fields rich in various crops 28 As it is not possible to show here in detail the cases of borrowing from the above-mentioned sources by different authors, we shall citc only a few such instances that exhibit a conspicuous sign of borrowing from or imitation of a particular work
A comparative study of these Puranas, however, reveals that of all the poets of classical ornate style, Kālıdāsa holds the greatest sway over the imaginative acumen of the Purānakäras,
25 These are (1) Asvagrloa, (11) Târaka, (111) Meruka, (iv) Nisumbha, (v)
Madhukaitabha, (vi) Balt, (vi) Pranarana, (v111) Rāvana (all khecaras) and (1x) Jarāsandha, Sec JHV,160 291-92
"अश्वग्नीवो भुवि ख्यातस्तारको मेरुकस्तथा । निशुम्भ. शुभदंभोजवदनो मधुकैटभ ॥ बलि प्रहरणाभिख्यो रावण खेचरान्वया ।
भूचरस्तु जरासघो नवते प्रतिशत्रव ॥" According to the Uttarapurano of Gunabhadra, the Pralırásudelas were (1) Astagriva, (11) Toraka, (11) Madhu, (iv) Madhusadana, (v) Damitāri, (vi) Nisumbha, (vu) Bolindta, (v111) Rāvana and (1x) Farāsandha. Parvans 67-60, 62, 65-67, 72 Gunabhadra's list shows obvious departure from that of Jinasena It is also remarkable that majority of Purānakäras describe there Pratidāsudroas as of extremely black complexion Sce,
for example TSPG, 4.1.247, 4 2 121ff 28 MP:18 118-207, 12 2-31; 28 9 52, 30 05-83 CUC, pp 111, 218,