Chanakya Explored in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Nalini Joshi
Publisher: Firodaya Prakashan

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occasionlly. Sixteen characters of the Mudrārāksasa speak in Prakrit.
The snake-charmer Āhitundika specifically mentions that he is a Prakrit-poet."
Amātya Rāksasa mentions the verse of the snake-charmer as a ‘gāthā'. The relation of Prakrit and Jainism is very close. The Jainas have created a huge literature in all types of prakrit. Especially Cāņakya-narratives are scattered over in the Prakrit literature. [11] Main theme of the Mudrārākṣasa :
At the very outset, it should be noted that the main plot and the happenings in the Mudrārākṣasa, are absent in the Jaina literature. The imaginary name Rākşasa never occurs in the Jaina references. But we can find the reason behind the name Rākṣasa with the help of the Jaina stories. The Jainas say that Subandhu (or Subuddhi), a minister of Nandas, was waiting for a long time to retaliate upon Cāņakya. Ultimately he succeeded in setting fire to Cāņakya. Due to this brutal act, one can call him Rākṣasa - having a demonic mentality.
There are two versions of the Subandhu episode in the Jaina literatue. Some narratives connect Subandhu with Bindusāra while others (especially the Digambaras) say that the minister of the Nandas, viz. Subandhu fleed away from Pāțaliputra and became a minister of a king of a southern country. When Cāņakya became a Jaina monk and wandered towards south with his samgha, Subandhu recognized him and put him to death.
The main plot of the Mudrārākṣasa consists of various means and ways undertaken by Cāņakya to persuade Rākṣasa by hook or by crook, for being a minister of Candragupta. All these conspira