Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 41

The Épics and the Žaina Puranas
Hymns and prayers uttered in extolment of the first Jina betray a deep influence of the Mahābhārata 33 Majority of the terms and expressions used in praise of Kęsna and other gods by the epic heroes seem to have been borrowed with slight modifications in their import Thus, the names and epithets denoting various qualities and functions of Brahmā,34 Vişnu35 and Siva as well as their common attributes36 recur in the MP as the titles of the first Jina The Tirthankara is represented as both transcendent over and immanent in all.37 Further, he is unborn, ever young, imperishable,38 immovables' and eternal 40 He is the Primal god (Ādı-Deva), the creator and Sustainer
33 III 39 74-79; VII 201 61-71, 202 9-50, VIII 33 65-62, X 7 2-11,
XII 43 3-16, 47 16-101, XIII 14 287-331, 345-352, 407-423, 104-65
and 17 31 ff 34 Vide chap III Sec II notes 1-13 35 eg Visnu (MP 24 35), Harı (MP 2-36) Amplodbhava (MP 25 130),
Padmanabhı (MP 25 133), Hưşike'sa (MP 25 134 and comp MBh 8 05 57-65, 6 66 19, 67 21, Purda (MP 25 101, MBh 6 678) Besides, striking parallelism subsists between thc Vişnusahasranāmastotra cmbedd. ed in the Mahābhārata (XIII 149 14-120) and the section devoted to the recital of a thousand and eight names' of the first Tirthankara in
the Mahāpurāna (25 100-217) 36 cf zasta: aT FATT Tra (MP 25 121a) and a f
fabatt JEDTET TEIT (MBh XIII 149 37b, VII 202 361-37a), #TAET FITHT FTFIT #THÈGEREGT (MP 25 167b) and FIAT FTA
a fitta FIT THUG SL (NIB. XIII 149 46), 4a-HOTHECH (MP 25 121) and 7 HOTTEETH (MBh XIII 149 14) feTiyat Trat TTT (MP 25 117a) and The Trat
TAIFAT YHTCH (MB) XIII 140 14b) fatuurT (MBh XIII 149 34b) Similar other expressions anl cpithets of identical sense and sound are interspersed throughout the relevant chapters of both
thc works 37 MP, 25 188 195 Gilā III 16, VI 30, XII 3 38 MP, 24 34, 25 109, 24 30, 25 106 and cf MBh XIII 143 15, 24, 116,
cmploying the terms like Ajara, Aja, Ajanman, Aksara, Adyaya and
Janmamptyujarātiga, etc. 39 Sthānu, Sthasnu (MP 25 114, 203 and MBh XIII 149 26, 59) 40 Saspala, Sanälana (MP 25 102, 105 MB) VI 35 18, 6610, 33, XII.
47 37)