Hathigumpha Inscription of Kharavela and Bhabru Edict of Asoka

Author(s): Shashi Kant
Publisher: D K Print World

Page 93

Jainism
67
There is also a reference to duality of soul (jiva) and matter (deha) in the passage jiva-deha-siritā. The Jains recognise two categories as jīva (soul) and ajiva (non-soul). Soul is independent, with a separate entity altogether, and is not to be identified with the body (deha), a form of matter (pudgala which is ajiva), in which it is contained for the time being. Khāravela's statement that his soul is dependent (siritā = Skt. asrita) upon body, is quite in accord with the Jain concept.
He also defines Śramana as suvihita or self-possessed. Šramana is the general term for Jain monks. Kunda-kunda defined a Jain monk in the following terms:
Dehādisamgarahio māņakasäehiṁ sayalaparichatto
Appă appammi rao sa bhāvaliṁgi have sāhū.? . It is again an amplification of Khāravela's definition.
The order of the monks appears to have consisted of different grades which are mentioned in a descending order. First come the Šramaņas who appear to have been quite unconcerned with all mundane affairs, then come the Jñānis who appear to have been masters of the Scripture, next come the Tapasvi-Rşis who appear to have laid more stress on penance, and lastly come the Saṁghayanas, or the leaders of the Samghas, who by the very nature of their work were concerned with organisational matters more particularly, and therefore were the less detached
observed the rainy season retreat (vāsäsitānam), and surmised, “this probably indicates that Khăravela was an advocate of the Svetāmbara form of Jainism and the monks of that sect were receiving royal endowment (räjabhitinam)", (vide, Khāravela, pp. 87-88). This surmise is wide off the mark because the sect of the white-robed was yet to formalize (see App. III infra). Op. cit., p. 125. It means: Only he is an ascetic in reality who does not possess any physical belongings, has completely cast off ego or pride, and is totally absorbed in his self (soul, appă = ātmā).