Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

Page 82

CHAPTER III
THE MANUS AND THEIR PERIODS
Section I
All the Puranas like their Brahmanical counterparts contain Manvantara accounts in their introductory sections 1 These accounts appear somewhat different from those embodied in the Brahmanical epic-Puranic texts But the difference is simply superficial and as such does not represent an entirely distinct tradition. In view of the fact that the canonical works do not show any acquaintance with the conception of Manus of different ages, it will not be illegitimate to hold that the conception of different Manus as found in the Jaina Puranas is adopted from the traditional conception of fourteen Manus, seven past2 and seven future a
1 VPC, III, 50 55, RPC, III 73 87, JHV, VII 125-169, AP, III 63 152, CMC, P 10, TSPC, 1 2 160 206
2 (a) These are (1) Soezembhura, (11) Starociso, (m) Uttan a, (v Tarasa (x) Rattata, (vi) Cahṣuşa and (vii) Vairasvata (presiding over the present Mancantara) The Mahabharata mentions, besides Sʊājambhura and Vairastata, some of the above Manus as of known
celebrity, वरिष्ठो नाम भगवान् चाक्षुपस्य मनो सुत MB XIII 18 20a, a reference is also made to the seven past Manus,
सप्त XIII 14 379, XIII 14 280, VI 34 6, III 356
(b) The Puraras, however, place different past Manus chronologically
in the following way.
स्वायम्भुवो मनु पूर्व पर स्वारोचिषस्तथा । Jamansarda fanpanggenen 11 पते मनवोतीता साम्प्रत तु रवे सुत | वैचन्वतोय यस्यैतत्सप्तम वर्ततेन्तरम् ॥
-Viş 1 1 6-7, Märka 52 6-7, Vayu, 62. 3-4, Mat, Chap 9 3 (1) Storrt, (11) Daksesitorni, (11) Brohmasavarni, (vi) Dharmasāvarnı, (v) Rudrataram, (vi) Ruas or Raucya and Bhauma-Vis III 2 13-40, old 1. 3 16-18