Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 71

Brahmanıcal Definition
Jinasena states at another place that the location of the three worlds (jagattraya-niveśa), the totality of the three (divisions of) tim. (traikāl yasya ca samgrahah) and the creation as well as the destruction of the world (jagatah Srsti-saṁhārau) are wholly rejared here 43 The terms Srştı and Samhāra may logically be equated respectively with the Sarga and Pratisarga characteristics of the Pañcalaksana definition, for the study of the Purānas reveals that, though critical of the Brahmanical theory of creation, these works do not differ from Brahmanical view in the main
The instances are many which display the Jaina belief in the periodical dissolution and, therefore, the implied resurgence or re-creation of the world 44 Gunabhadra's reference to the Pralaya of the world at the close of the sixth period fo Avasarpın£46 also points to the same truth as is conveyed by the
43 "FTTTefaastee Tarte TOEI जगतः सृष्टिसहारौ चेति कृत्स्नमिहोच्यते ॥"
--MP 1 119 So far as I know, the author does not give the account of Samhara However, there is an incidental reference to the idea of Pralaya, which undoubtedly shows his belief in the process of dissolution and TC-creation of the world किमिद प्रलयक्षोभात् क्षुभित वारिधेर्जलम् । किमुत त्रिजगत्सर्ग प्रत्यग्रोऽय विजृम्भते ॥
-MP 26 86 (Is this the stirred out water of the ocean agitated) on account of the dissolutionary gust, or is this a fresh creation of the three worlds com
ing into being ?) 44 PMP XVII i 6b
ण पलयजलणु धगधगधगतु । TSPC, 15 691
कल्पान्तसागरावर्तगर्तभ्रान्तादिमत्स्यवत् । Ibid , 4 1 677a
कटाक्षमिव कालस्य कल्पान्ताग्ने शिखामिव । 46 UP, 76 447-53 cf Trilokasāra (vv 864-66) quoted by Pt Pannalal Jain
in his translation of the work, p 659