Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 75

Brahmanical Definition
67
The position of the three worlds (viz the higher, the middle and the lower is Kşetra Kala stands for all-pervasive time representing the three stages of past, present and future. Tirtha implies the ways and means of salvation, and the persons devoted to the Tirtha are called Satpurusas. The right conduct of these persons, who are dispellers of all sins, is meant by the phrase Tadviceştıta31 A careful study of the above Puranic topics makes it sufficiently clear that the Jaina Puranists, though taking cognizance of the new matters already received into the corpus of the Purana, have attached great importance to the numerical aspect of the ancient Brahmanical definition as well, for, in their new definition, too, the number of the topics has been admitted to be five.
Here it is worthy of mention that the new definition of the Purana as offered by the Jaina Purana writers is in perfect consonance with the Brahmanical definition. As a matter of fact similar idea regarding the characteristic features of a Purāna has been expressed in seemingly different terms An analysis of the import of these terms will bring home to us the underrunning current of oneness between the Brahmanical notion and the Jaina one Now, the term Kşetra as used in the definition is expressive of the state of composition and position of the three worlds55 at different stages of their evolution and decadence in recurring order 56 Similarly, the Sarga
54 क्षेत्रं त्रलोक्यविन्यास कालस्त्र काल्यविस्तर । मुक्त्युपायो भवेत्तीर्थं पुरुषास्तन्निषेविण ॥ न्याय्यमाचरित तेषा चरित दुरितच्छिदाम् । इति कृत्स्न पुराणार्थ प्रश्ने सम्भावितस्त्वया ॥
-MP. 2, 39-40
-MP 2 39 40
55 It is equivalent of loka (4 13 14) which consists of three broader divisions of lower, middle and upper worlds (440) with several subdivisions
56 As is clearly shown by the division of Time into two ages called Avasarpani and Utsarpani which again are sub-divided into six stages each in accordance with the gradual decadence in the succeeding stage See below notes 58 61