Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 45

The Epics and the Jaina Puränas
The above list of the subjects dealt with in the work clearly shows as to how similar Svayambhū's version is with the Mahābhārata account of the principal events.
The spirit of the age, which accepted one Supreme soul of the universe, the Highest Reality (Parālpara), effected emotional integrity among the contending sects of Hinduism, appears to have influenced Svayambhū to a greater extent. Thus, inspired by the idea of essential unity among the divergent god-concepts, he applies to the Jinas all the popular names and epithets of the gods of different faiths and sects.58 It is with this end in view that the different heroes in Svayambhū's Purānas address the Jinas indiscriminately as Nārāyana59 Dina-kara, Varštavana, śrva, Varuna, Hutāśana (Agni), Saśı, Pavana, Brahmā, Han, Hara, Buddha and so on 6 The spirit of the prayer, in which these names find mention, clearly indicates that these have been used to suggest one Absolute Reality, albeit in the form of the Jina
Here it must be mentioned that all the above features represent the popular side of Jainism, which, on the analogy to Saivism and Vaisnavism, had developed a theistic tendency that was formally sanctioned by the protagonists of the faith. However, the belief in the divinity of the afore-said gods never found favour with the monks01 who were the genuine represen58. अरहन्तु बुद्ध तुहुँ, हरि हरु वि, तुहुँ अण्णाण-तमोह-रिउ । सहुँ सुहमु रिणरजणु परम-पउ, तुहुँ रवि वम्भु सयम्भु सिउ ।।
--SPC, 43 19 6-7, quoted in Paūmacuriu, Introduction, p 14 09 पारायण दिरणयरु वइसवणु मिउ वरुणु हुवासणु ससि पवण् । जो होउ सु होउ थुणन्तु पिउ, एक्कन्ते करेप्पिणु कालु किउ ।।
---Rıtthanemicariu, 56 30 9-10, quoted bed p 13 60 loc at, note 58 (ante) 61 ये स्त्रीशस्त्राक्षसूत्रादिरागाद्यङ्गकलङ्किता ।
निग्रहानुग्रहपरास्ते देवा स्युन मुक्तये ॥ नाट्याट्टहाससंगीताद्युपप्लव-विसंस्थुला । लम्भयेयु पद शान्त प्रपन्नान् प्रारिपन कथम् ।।
-TSPC, 23 808-05 (The gods, who arc staincł with marks of passion etc for women, weapons, a rosary and so on (and) are devoted to rcproof and favour, cannot lead lo emancipation How can, (those