Book Title: Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature
Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

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Page 248
________________ 238 views towards society in general ; the importance given by him to a arth and kāma in congruence with dharma ; his shrewd political wisdom directed with the aphorism - 314a Ya {15:”; a prominent economist who snatched wealth and prosperity for the well-being of the people ; a psychologist having a power of mind-analysis with the ingita and ākāra ; a nationalist with a deep insight in the rural and urban areas of India and the last but not the least - an eminent author having a comprehensive grasp to document the wisdom of his predecessors and his own in the form of a monumental treatise the Arthaśāstra - All these details are available directly from the text Arthaśāstra as well as from the Jaina literature with a stunning similarity. [16] Excessive Jainification : It is a standard habit of the Jainas to depict all the influential personalities with excessive Jainification. This typical mentality and methodology is seen through the big-sized and still increasing model of salākāpuruṣas. The Jainas went on adding the list of the illustrious personalities at the advent of time. In the same line they proclaimed Cāņakya as being a Jaina. The Svetāmbaras portray him as a śrāvaka while the Digambaras claim that he was a muni leading a samgha of 500 sādhus - which is simply impossible and out of reason considering his strict attitude towards ascetic class. The Jainas have made Cāņakya to appologize with the traditional phrase - ‘मिच्छामि दुक्कडं'. They have written thestory in which Canakya praises 941905' (heretics). When Cāņakya accepts religious death with a calm and composed mind, the Jainas have labelled his death as YG474147, 34721 or - by using a particular terminol ogy.

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