Book Title: Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra
Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
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JAIN MANTRAVADA AND CAITYAVASIS : JAIN EMPEROR SAMPRATI
183
European historians like Vincent Smith think that Maurya King. dom was perhaps divided on the death of Asoka between Dasartha and Samprati, the former taking the eastern and the latter the wester provinces; + but the fact that Purānas mention the name of Samprati amongst rulers of Magadha contradicts such a conclusion. Further, Buddhist works like Divyāvadāna state that Samprati succeeded to the throne of Asoka and was crowned as king on the death of Asoka. Even the inscriptions of Nagarjuna hills recording gift of three caves by Dasaratha to Ajīvikas do not say that Dasaratha was the successor of Asoka nor do they bear any date. Further the inscriptions do not describe Daśaratha as a Maurya. He is there styled 'the beloved o gods' (carai f42). This is the only phrase which may lead one to consider that Dasaratha might possibly be a Maurya. If we take the Buddhist and Jain evidence together it definitely proves that Samprati was the successor of Asoka. We have considered it necessary to go rather in details into this question as the meeting of Samprati with Arya Suhasti and his efforts for the spread of Jainism as detailed above form the central plank in the history of the Caityavāsis. Although the Caityavāsis as a body came to be organized much later, Caityavāsa and various lax practices found with it had already taken roots about this time* and gradually grew and gathered strength by about the 2nd century of the Vikrama era.
13. Kalpasūtra's commentaries : Kiraņávali (1628 Vikrama era) p. 165, Kalpalatā
(1685 Vikrama era) p.224, and Subodhikā (1696 Vikrama era) p. 163 B-all being
of the 17th century Vikrama era. 14. Upadhyaya Sri Samayasundara's Ghanghāni or Dhandhāni Tirtha Stotra which
records finds of idols of Samprati on Jetha Sud 11th 1662 Vikrama era, P. 178
Sri Jain Svetämbara Conference Herald Vol. XIV, Nos. 4 to 6 15. Vijayalakşmişūri's Upadeśaprāsåda (19th century Vikrama era). + Even Vincent Smith admits that "there is no clear evidence to support this hypothesis." P. 181 Early History of India. * Arya Mangu a contemporary of Sri Kalakācārya being fond of rich food remained at Mathură continuously for a long period till he died there and became Yakşa. He is cited as an instance of lax practice although he was otherwise a great Achārya.
