History of Jaina Monachism

Author(s): S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute

Page 92

HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
87 This fact gets corroboration even in the Jaina texts. For instance, the Vyavahārabhāşya172 says that there was a certain king Tosalika who was particular about guarding a Jina image in the city of Tosali. References to Mahāvīra's visit to Tosali are also to be met with.173
(iii) That the Jaina monks had the trust of the king in them can be seen from the incident that Cāņakya exploited the services of a Jaina in the revolution which he so successfully brought about in the overthrow of the Nandas.174
Inspite of this picture of the Nandas and their feeling about Jainism, it is surprising to note that the Jaina accounts are silent over the state of their religion in the other parts of the Nanda empire besides Magadha and Kalinga. It may be that these two provinces were still their strongholds and that they did not care much for consolidation in regions beyond the land of their own birth. The Mauryas :
The successors of the Nandas were the mighty Mauryas who were perhaps the first emperors of a large part of India.
The origin of the Mauryas seems to have been with Candragupta, who according to the Jaina accounts, was the son of a peacock-tamer (moraposaga).
We are, however, concerned here more with the affinity of the first king Candragupta towards Jainism. According to the Jaina tradition, in the reign of the king, Bhadrabāhu predicted a famine of twelve years in Magadha, and migrated to South India with a number of disciples, the chief among whom was Candragupta.175
Scholars are not unanimous either regarding this tradition about Candragupta or that about Cāņakya who according to Jaina texts died a death by Samlehanā or fast unto death.176 RICE,177 NARASIMHACAR178 and
172. 6, 115ff. 173. Avašyaka, pp. 219-20 (Agamodaya Smt. Ed., Bom. 1916-17).
174. NARASIMHACAR, EC, II, Intr., p. 41. Moreover CHARPENTIER remarks-'Jainas do not share the bad opinion of these kings which was held by the Buddhists. This fact seems to suggest that the Nanda kings were not unfavourably inclined towards the Jaina religion."--CHI., p. 164. Also see JRAS, 1918, p. 546; JBORS., XIII, p. 245.
175. RICE, Mysore and Coorg from Inscriptions, pp. 3-4: Authority of Rājāvalikathe; also Brhatkathäkośa of Harisena (931 A.D.): 131; (Ed. UPADHYE).
176. Santharaya Painnaya, vs. 73-75. 177. Op. cit., pp. 2-10; I. A., III, pp. 153-58. 178. Inscr. at śr. Bel. pp. 36-40.
Jaina religTRICE, Mysakosa of Ha vs. 73-7. 153-58