Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

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

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Aspects of Brahmanical Influence on the Jaina Mythology
a series of attendant vices which robbed the people of their pristine purity and tranquillity of mind Consequently everything got topsylurvy, and the society began to disintegrate. Now, to arre.t such a chaotic condition and to make the life worth living, the contemporary people felt necessity of a mighty person, who could protect the righteous, punish the evıldoers and, at the same time, could command the unreserved respect of all. And as a result of that exigency kingship arose
Now, a comparison of the above account of the origin of kingship with the Svetāmbara version12 of the appointment of Vimalapāhana as the first Manu leaves no doubt that both the versions ascribe the origin of kingship to the necessity of kceping the antisocial elements under control
It is also interesting to note that both the Svetāmbara and the Brahmanical versions of the origin of kingship exhibit an element of contract between the parties concerned ie between the would-be ruler and the masses But the Jaina version is not as clear and complete as the Brahmanical version13, for according to the Brahmanical account the sages and gods, who icpi escnt ihe masses, as) Fşthu 10 iske oath that he will guard the carthly Brahma in thought, action and speech in accordar ce with the principles of Dharina and Danda and will never give way to licence 14 Thereupon king Pythu takes oaib to the effect by laying down a condition that he will act in accordance with their wishes, provided the Brahmanas co-operate with him 16 The Jaina version only states 12 Note 7 (ante) 13 For the study of the nature of the Buddlust and Brahmanical contract
theones of the origin of state sceRS Sharma, Aspects of Political
Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India, Chapter IV 14 प्रतिना चाधिरोहम्ब मनमा कर्मणा गिरा।
पालयिष्याम्यह भोम ब्रह्म इत्येव चासकृत् । यश्चाय धर्मनीत्युक्तो दण्डनीतिव्यपाश्रय । तमाङ्क करिप्यामि स्ववशो न कदाचन ।।
VIBb 12 59 112-13, 16 STEINIT À FETURE The Tih 11
-Ibid 12 50 1156