Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 77

Brahmanıcal Definitiou
the Avasarpınt period begins in inverted succession Thus, the stages of the avasarpint period are (1) Suşamā-susamä, (2) Susama, (3) Susamā-duhşamā-duhşamā, (4) Duhşama-suşamă, (5) Duhşamā and (6) Duhsamā-duhşamā or Atiduhsama 61 These stages reflect the progressive and degressive conditions of the periods which they represent The incalculability of the duration of each of these stages can be inferred from the fact that only the third of these six stages is said to have comprised several successive Manvantaras, each of which is stated to be on countless crores of years 62 Fourteen such Mandantarasts are reported to have passed before the advent of Rşabhadeva, the first Tirthankara of the faith. In view of the above representation of time we can reasonably include the Hindu Purānic Mandantara in the Kāla of the Jinist description The accounts of the origin and exploits of the great personages, which form the subjectmatter of the characteristics put forth by the terms Satpumsas and Tadoicestita may be said to have their counterparts in the themes of Vamsa and Vamśānucarta For, the expressions Satpumsas and Tadduceştita, as used here, imply all the Salakāpurusas as well as their right actions of mundanc, ethical and spiritual nature It is under these heads that the Jaina Purāņas present the genealogical accounts of the great personages of the Jaina faith Some of these persons are represented as of great spiritual power and are invested with supreme divinity To this group belong the twenty-four Tirthandaras. Another group consists of the twelve chakrins, nine Baladevas and nine Vasudevas. These persons, though represented as possessed of immensc supernatural powers, are portrayed as
81 द्विरुक्तसुषमाद्यासीद् द्वितीया सुपमा मता।
'सुषमा-दुःषमान्तान्या सुषमान्ता च दु.षमा ।। पञ्चमी दुषमा ज्ञेया समा पष्ठ्यति षमा ॥''
-AP. III 17 18a, JHV, VII, 58 59 , TSPC, 1 2 113 15 82 See note 57 (ante) 03 Vide chapter III (infra) The Svetāmbaras, however, accept only seveo
Manus and their Antaras 04 Dealt with in chapter VII.