Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 72

Aspects of Brahmanıcal Influence on the Fauna Mythology
Brahmanical tradition.co What is significant here is the idca of the periodical end and the revivification or resurgence of the world It matters not whether we call that cvent rc cication or something else It is also immaterial if we attribute that function to any extraneous power or to the inlicrcnt quality of the elements or atoms constitutiog the material world. Thus, Samhära of the present list is suggestive of the same event as is conveyed by Pralwarga from different angles, for, the latter essentially implies prior dissolution of the world
Next, the author of the present work specifies the topics peculiar to the life story of Rşabhadeva, the first Tirthankara 47 These topics according to the list are (1) Sthur (the position of the eternal worlds), (11) bíuladharolpatta (birth of the Kuladharas48 popularly called Manus), (m) Vamsa-nırgama (origin of various dynasties), (1v) Puroh Samrajya (Sovereignty), (v) Arhaniya (his arhat-hood), (vi) Nirdāna (liberation from the recurring cycle of births and deaths) and (v11) luga-vicchidā (end of the Yuga ie of Ava sarpini) A comparison of the present list with those of the MP has included the account of the Mandantaras and of the dissolution of the epoch (uga) among the main topics of his Vīşabha-Purāna Thus Jinasena has brought his list quite closer to the five characteristics of the Brahmanıcal Purānas in a modified form, for, the objectsthiti, Kuladharotpattı, Vamsa-nırgama and yuga-rrcchidā fairly
46 Vivu, 102 1.53. 47 स्थिति कुलघरोत्पत्तिवशानामथ निर्गम ।
पुरो साम्राज्यमार्हन्त्य निर्वाण युगविच्छिदा ॥ एते महाधिकारा स्यु पुराणे वृषभेशिन ॥
-AP, II, 158-59a 48 ggrar taattah ATHATAT HATI
आर्याणा कुलम स्त्यायकृते कुलकरा इमे ॥ कुलाना धारणादेते मता कुलधरा इति युगादिपुरुषा प्रोक्ता युगादी प्रभविष्णव ॥
AP, III, 211-212