Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

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Aspects of Brahmanical Influence on the Jain Mythology
those cases where changes have been introduced, the similarities are really far more striking than the differences The introductory portion of this Purana is very important and interesting from the standpoint of reaction it shows against the Ramayana of Valmiki 13
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Ravisena's Padmacarita (A.D 678) occupies second place in the chronological order." This work is practically a faithful Samskrta version of the Prakrta Paümcanja of Vimalasiri. Our study reveals that Ravsena imitates Vimala wholesale without acknowledging his indebtedness to the latter. The introductory chapter of the Padmacanta exhibits the same censorious attitude15 towards VR as Vimalasuri's work does However, the way, in which the reflection has found expression, is an obvious evidence of the author's anxiety for minimizing the fame and popularity of the Valmiki-Rāmāyana among the Jaina laity. It rather proves to the hilt that the Valmiki-Rāmāyana was fairly accurately known among and studied by the contemporary Jainas, and sofaras the accounts of the families of Rama and Ravana were concerned, there was not any well-established Jaina tradition which could have been drawn upon 18 Although the Jaina authors claim a very old tradition for their legendary narratives," yet this seems to have been prompted by their propensity to invest their versions with an element of antiquity and authenticity
Jinasena's Harivamsapurāna was composed in 783 A D. It is considered to be the earliest known Jaina version of the
13 VPC, 2 107-117, 3 8-16
14. The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 292
15 RPC, 3 17-27, 8 146-149
16 According to Viralasun himself, the Rama-story existed in the form of list of names and as handed down from teacher to his pupil in regular succession.
नामावलियनिवद्ध प्रायरियपरपरागय सव्व । वोच्छामि पउमचरियं ग्रहारपुव्वि समासेण ।
VPC 18
17 See Introduction, note 40 Also DL. Narasimhachar, The Jaina Ramayanas, Irdian Historical Quarterly, Vol XV No 4 pp 575 #
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