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 Jaina Mythology
he calls it both Arsa85 (composed by Rşi) and (Sühta (pregnant with pleasant and truthful teachings) as well as Dharmaśāstra The work is further styled an Amnaya, a synonym of the veda. In addition to this designation the author also considers it both an Itihāsa, Itroṛtta and Artihya.38 Next, he treats Itihasa and Purana as identical in character.39 Here a Purana to the writer is simply an old traditional tale, having no reference to the later five characteristic features which gave the Purana the title Pañcalakşana
Thus having represented here early tradition already embodied in the Mbh,40 the author of the MP proceeds to deal with the subject matter of the Purana with especial reference to the later five characteristic features as pictured in some of the earlier Brahmanical Purānas These five topics are first mentioned by way of questions instituted by king Bharata to Lord Rşabha The former seels information from the latter about the Manu41 period of time, nature of the world, descent of (different stages of) time as also about the origin, existence and end of the (human and superhuman) families (Vamsotpattilaya-sthitih) 42 While enumerating the main topics of his Purāṇa, 35 " ऋषि प्ररणीतमाषं स्यात् सूक्तं सूनृतशासनात् 1 धर्मानुशासनाच्चेदं धर्मशास्त्रमिति स्मृतम् ॥”
-1 24, The Valmikiya Rāmāyana calls itself Arşa 36 Cf Vayu, 1 19, 61 61, where the Puranic verses are mentioned as Sahasrani rcămaşṭau satsatant tatharva ca
Teas,
37 AP, 1 25 Instances are not lacking where the Brahmanical Puranas appropriate to themselves the title reda The Vajupurana, for instence, calls the Puranic literature by the name Purana-veda (Va 1 17Purana-Vedo hy akhilastasmin samyak pratışıhitah)
38 Op at. 1 25
39 " पुराणमितिहासाख्य यत्प्रोवाच गणाधिप
Ibid, 1 26a
27
40 1.1 46-48, 191 (where it is called sacred Upanisad), 205 being designated as Karşna Veda), 208 9 which establish the claim of the Mahabharata for its superiority to the four vedas which are said to have been autweighed by the former both in merit and bulk)
41. AP 1 174-75
42 "लोक कालावतार च वशोत्पत्ति-लयस्थिती "
-1,170a,