Correlation of Jaina Inscriptions with Sthaviravalis

Author(s): U P Shah
Publisher: Z_Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_1_002105.pdf and Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_2

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U. P. Shah
Jarnbū-jyoti
The Tapägaccha-Pattāvali says that Arya Samudra and Arya Mangu belonged to another lineage and thus it does not help us much in deciding whether Arya Mangu was later than Arya Vajra or was his Junior contemporary. When the Mathură inscriptions speak of Arya Manguhasti or Māghahasti as belonging to Vairi śākhā, we have to presume that he was either later than Ārya Vajra or was his junior contemporary or that the Vairi śäkhā to which Maghahsti belonged had started before Ārya Vajra if the dates of Arya Mangu (467 years after Mahāvīra) and of Arya Vajra (years 496 to 584 after Mahāvīra) given by the Tapāgaccha Pattavali in the 17th century are to be believed. It is difficult, however, to rely on the dates it gives composed as it was in as late a period as the 17th century. But it is certain that, as shown by the Nandi-sthaviravalī, Ārya Mangu succeeded Arya Samudra as 'Vācaka-mukhya', the Nandi-sthavirāvali concerns itself with the Văcakas. Arya Mangu's active association with Mathurā is supported by several texts. Hence it is reasonable to regard Arya Mangu of literary works and Arya Manguhasti or Māghahasti of the two Mathurā inscriptions referred to above as identical24
In the Prakrit Proper Names (Ed. Pt. Dalsukh Malvania), part II, p. 537, we have the following entry about Mangu :- A learned preceptor (Nan, V. 29). Owing to his greed for food he became a Jakkha after his death at Mathură (Nis. Bh. 3200. Nis. Cü. II. pp. 125-26; III. p. 142. Av. Cü. II. p. 80. NanM. p. 50. GacV. p. 31.). He had a different opinion regarding dravyācārya (Av. Cū. I. p. 585. Brhm. p. 144. Vyabh. 6. 239 ff.)25. Samudda was his preceptor and Nandila26 his disciple (Nan. 28, 29).
In the “Pratikramaņa adhyayana" of the Avasyaka cürņi, while referring to the pratikramana of three types of gaurava-virädhanā, the story is given of Arya Mangu, a Jaina monk who was reborn as a Yaksa in Mathurā on account of egoism : xxx fayfa 3Gibu HET 3 323i fractica
डक्कतो कालं कातुं महराए णिद्धवणजक्खो उववण्णो, ताहे जक्खायतणस्स अदरेण साहणो बोबेंताणं जक्खपडिमं अणुपविसितुं जीहं निल्लालेति, एवं अण्णदावि कते साधूहिं पुच्छितो भणति-अहं सो पावकम्मो अज्जमंगू जीहादोसेण एत्थ उववण्णो तं मा तुब्भे गारवपहिबद्धा विद्धंधसा होहिह, एतेहिंगारवेहि जो मे Hra cosa I Av. Cù. I. p. 80.
The Niśītha cūrni calls him a bahuśruta, well-versed in canon, and having a large group of disciples : 774 FA IGTESUT - "Javiet" er ""
मधुरा मंगू आगम बहुसुय वेरग सडपूया-य । सातादि-लोभ-णितिए, मरणे जोहाइ णिद्धमणे ।।३२००।।