Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 405

CHAPTER XV ĀDIPURĀNA
The sacred writings of the Digambara Jainas are classified into four sections: the Prathamānuyoga, Karanānuyoga, Caraṇānuyoga and Dravyānuyoga. The Prathamānuyoga discusses the lives of Tirthankaras and other great men, the Karaṇānuyoga gives the description of the geography of the universe, Caraṇānuyoga gives rules of conduct for monks and laymen, and the Dravyānuyoga discusses philosophy.
The Jaina Purāņas which consist of myths and legends from ancient times come under the first section of the sacred writings of the Prathamānuyoga. The term Purāņa pertains to an old tale which narrates the life of a single individual, while the term Mahapurāna refers to the text which describes the lives of the 63 prominent persons of the Jaina faith. These 63 persons include 24 Tirtharkaras, of 12 Cakravartins, 9 Vāsudevas, 9 Baladevas and 9 Prativasudevas. The text describing the lives of 63 great men occur in the sacred literature of the Svetāmbara sect. The most famous among these texts is the Trişastiśalākāpuruşa-carita.
The Mahapuräna is composed of two parts — the Adipurāņa and the Uttarapurāņa. The Adipurāņa describes the cosmic cycle, the life of the first Tirthankara Rşabhanätha, his ten former births and the life of Bharata, the first Cakravartin and son of Rsabha. The former births of Rşabha have been described in Adipurāna through numerous tales and episodes. The Adipurāņa includes the various rites and consecrations in their proper order, which an individual must undergo before attaining omniscience and enlightenment. The text of the Purana also has descriptions to form a government and defines the procedure of a legal system in the institution. The part narrating the lives of the remaining great men forms the Uttarapuräņa.
According to the Mahāpuräņa, Mahāvīra communicated the Purāņa to his chief disciple, Gautama
Gañadhara (Pl. 247). The narrative of the Mahāpurāņa runs in answer to the questions of king Śreņika, who approaches Gautama Ganadhara to recite the story of the Mahāpurāņa.
According to Jaina belief, the Jaina religion is timeless which has been revealed to humanity by Tīrthankaras in an infinite series of cosmic cycles. In every cosmic cycle 48 Tīrthankaras are born to lead humanity to salvation – 24 in the Avasarpiņi era and 24 in the Utsarpiņi era. In both eras one Tirthankara is born in the suşama-duşama (happiness with some happiness) phase and the remaining 23 are born in the duşama-suşama phase (utmost happiness).
According to Jaina myths, in the present cosmic cycle Rşabha was destined to be the first Tirthankara. The present cosmic cycle is passing through its Avasarpiņi era in which at suitable intervals, fourteen Kulakaras, patriarchs, were born. These Kulakaras played a significant role in assisting people to cope with the declining conditions in the world. Among these the fourteenth Kulakara is known as Nabhi or Näbhirāja. Nābhi and his wife Marudevi were the parents of the first Tirthankara Rşabha.
The birth story of Rşabha explains the sixteen auspicious dreams of Marudevi, its narration to Nābhi and consequently about the conception of Tirthankara Rşabha. It also describes the Indra's arrival on earth to congratulate Marudevi and Näbhi, the parents of Rsabha and about 56 Dikkumāris to look after Marudevi after conception. On the ninth day of the dark half of the month of caitra (March-April) Marudevi gave birth to Rşabha (Pl. 248). Indra descended on earth with Indrasenā and proceeded to Mt. Meru to conduct lustration ceremony with other five Indras. After the ceremony Rşabha was placed with his mother Marudevi. He grew up into a handsome young man. Rşabha married two princesses
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