Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

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

Page 416

394
Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
represented with him while he is a monk (Pl. 263). He is accompanied with two human figures in attacking postures, probably to animals.
The first verse of the third chapter 'The Four Requisites' says that a living being must obtain the four things to lead to salvation. These four things are birth as a human being, an opportunity to hear the law preached, capacity to believe in it, and strenuous application in self control. However, the commentaries contain stories explaining how difficult it is to obtain human birth and to make best possible use of such birth. These stories are illustrated in the chapter. One such story deals with Brahmadatta who was a cakravartin and his ascetic friend who came to Brahmadatta's capital and asked him the privilege of begging at every house, with the assurance of receiving food and two dināras at each. The king was disappointed at the ascetic's request but, nevertheless, agreed to it. Through the story the case of the greedy ascetic is illustrated. In the illustrations generally the ascetic is represented in front of king who is seated on the throne (Pl. 264).
Similarly, in the present chapter the commentaries tell the stories of the schisms of the Jaina's faith. In one such story the death of monk Aşadha is described, who was born as a god. It also describes the means to distinguish a genuine monk and a god in a monk's appearance in the court of king Balabhadra. The illustration pertaining to the story shows monk Āsādha seated and addressing his disciples in the upper register, while the lower register shows king Balabhadra seated with the monks (Pl. 265).
Another scenes and related to the pontiff Aryarakṣita and his three rival claimants to the succession. When pontiff Aryarakṣita was about to die, he called the claimants and told a parable of three pots filled respectively with gram, oil and butter. All three were broken on the ground and all the grain fell out as well as the oil except few drops but much of the butter remained. All three claimants were compared with these
three and the preference was given to one named Gosthāmāhila who became the founder of the sixth schism. The illustrations pertaining to the story show Aryarakṣita addressing his three disciples (Pl. 266).
The fourth chapter 'The Past cannot be Reassembled' teaches that a step once taken can never be retraced, a fault once committed must be followed by its effect, therefore a monk must ever practise the law diligently. The illustrations related to the chapter state the story of the wrestler Attana referred to in the commentary. Attana was invincible in his youth but later on conquered by a fisherman. The fisherman and a farmer fought for two days without any dicision and the fisherman smashed the head of the farmer. Attana in his old age was mistreated by his relatives. With this treatment he left for Kausāmbi and established himself there. His family hearing of his renewed life came to share his wealth. Considering the weaknesses of old age Attana decided to enter in religious life. The illustrations pertaining to the story show Astana sitting and watching duel of the fisherman and the farmer fighting with weapons (Pl. 267). However, two men were fighting with sword. The duel of two men is identified with the story of Agadadatta (or Agaladatta) referred to in one of the commentaries, who caught the thief, as he was terrorizing the city, and killed him cleverly. The illustration shows Agadadatta fighting with the thief.
Another story explains that those men who collect wealth by evil deeds and through adherence to false principles will be caught by their own snares, bound by their own hatred, and will go to hell. The theme is explained through a story of the robber who concealed his plunder in a deep well. The robber used to marry the girls and when they conceived, he used to kill them and throw their bodies down the well. But once he allowed a beautiful and dear wife to live, who bore him a son. After few years the robber's mind changed and he killed them both, the mother and the child, and threw them down the well. The child's cry was heard by the
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