Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 29

Introduction
IÍ SOURCES It is obvious that no external or secondary sources can serve as the foundation of the present type of study Naturally, we have based our investigation principally on the original texts of both the faiths The Brahmancal side comprises the two national epics together with the Harvamsa as well as some of the relevant early Purānas The Smyths of Manu and Yājñavalkya have also been relied upon in the section that deals with the Smsłż3o matters.
The Jaina sources include all the principal Purānas and Putānic cartas written in three languages, viz, Samskīta, Praksta and Apabramsa. These Purānas, like their Brāhmanıcal counterparts are the results of the literary pursuits of several authors and extend over a period of more than one thousand years
The works may roughly be divided into two groups in accordance with the sects to which the respective authors belong. Thus, on sectarian ground they may be taken to represent both the Svetāmbara and Digambara schools But, despite their schismatic differences, all the works are strikingly unanimous in deriving the Jaina universal history from Lord Mahavira through Gautama Ganadhara who in all the works is represented as having narrated the life-history of the Salāka purus to king Srenka of Magadha 40 But, the great divergences and discrepancies in the various versions expose this claim for antiquity to serious doubt, for, even with regard to the dynas. tic and genealogical accounts, the points of difference are far more striking than the points of agreement This is true also of those works which belong to the same sect 41
39 - Chaps VIII & IX 40 VPC 2 104-3 14, Where Gautama Ganadhara claims that he relatcs tbc
story of Padma) as it has been told by the Kevalın, 1 e Lord Mahavita
TF Baitu FATT HAFT IF ofta fH, Ibid 3 14b RPC, 3 1326, 123 166 ff JHV 5 60-66, 66 12, AP 2 2-97, UP, 76 645 f,
ATU-TE-Efafurity 744161-05 TE PIHTTU,—SPC, 121 PMP, 2 4 1-12, CMC, p 4, SPP, 2 14-102 41. Discussed in Chapters IV-VI.