Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 46

f: 28
Aspects of Brahmanical Influence on the Jain Mythology
tatives of the Jaina faith
also Puspadanta's Mahāpurāna (959 AD-965 A.D)62 called Tisatthimahāpurisagunālankāru,63 is a voluminous work in Apabhramsa The Purana has for its model the Mahāpurāṇa of Jinasena-Gunabhadra As is evident from the title, the work deals with the life-stories of all the sixty-three Great Men of Jaina mythology It is remarkable that in the introductory portion of his work Puspadanta, unlike his co-religionists, shows high regard for Vyasa inasmuch as he reckons the latter among his predecessors, reputed for their literary achievements. Puspadanta's list enumerates, besides Patanjali's works as well
who are) infirm from overindulgene in dance, loud laughter, music ctc cause refuge-seching creatures to obtain tranquil position ") It is apparent that the criticism, though somewhat indirect, relates to the trio of the Hindu gods However, Somadeva's dig at these divinities is more direct and pointed than the Puranic stricture insofar as the former makes explicit mention of Brahmā, Viṣnu, Śiva and the Sun-god in the following verse
3419fa. Exeqîqaι fagât aerg oì qeqfa a#armı 1 भिक्षाशनो होमजपोपपन्न कथ स देवोऽन्यजनेन तुल्य ॥
Yasastilaka, Bk IV (How can he be a god who is just like other people, is husband of Umā (Pårvali) and father of Skanda (Kärllikeya, wields a trident and dressed in skins dances in the evening twilight, lives on alms, offers firc-oblation and mutters prayer ?) Similarly, divinity of Vişnu and the Sun bas been called in question in the following verse
af ga afaa ga sîassqìfa¢œegeqgot zfax | देवोस्त एतो यदि मुक्तिमार्गों पृथुश्र्च सोमश्र कुतस्तथा न ॥
Ibid Bk IV
Hari (Visnu) again is simply a Ksatriya and the Sun has the same qualities as the other luminaries If these two are gods leading (men) to final emancipation, why is it that Prthu and the moon, too, are not (called) so ] Both verses quoted in rasastilaha and Indian Culture, p 322 Also see Ibid pp 249, 323
62 Vide Dr PL Vaidya, Introduction to the Mahapurānu, PP XXXI
XXXV
63 Critically edited by Dr P L Vaidya and published by Minkchana Digambara Jaina Granthamalā, Bombay