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FOREWORD
I feel immense pleasure in contributing this Foreword to Dr. Shaktıdhar Jha's interesting work which presents a comparative study of the Brahmanical epic-Puranic tradition and the Jaina mythology, analysing in particular the adaptability of popular Jainism to the Brahmanical epic-Puranic concepts of social and cultural values We have here for the first time a vivid account of the Jaina Puranas and Caritas with reference to the epics-the Rāmāyana and the Mahabharata-showing how these works have influenced the Jaina Purana literature both in form and matter It further discusses the Brahmanical definition of Purana and its applicability to the Jaina Puranic lore, the Svetambara and Digambara accounts of Manvantaras and their agreement with the Brahmanical description of the Ages of different Manus, a comparative survey of the Brahmanical and Jaina accounts of the growth and developments of human society as well as the Jaina versions of the dynastic lists and genealogical accounts comparing them with the Brahmanical pretentation of dynasties and genealogies
The beauty of this work lies in its searching analysis and critical approach to the various problems of early Indian history and culture Dr Jha has presented a detailed scientific analysis of the Ikṣvāku race and its various branches as represented in the Brahmanical and Jaina sources, and of the Harı dynasty which is nothing but a Jinist reproduction of the Brahmanical Yaduvamsa One may or may not agree with his assessment of the Jaina view of the institution of class and order, the aims of human existence and the accounts of different sacraments as well as some ethical and philosophical concepts, but there is no doubt that Dr. Jha has presented a pene
