Jain Journal 1976 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 17

OCTOBER, 1976
35
were born in Ksatriya families : Rsabha was a Kosalan Ksatriya ; Aristanemi was the son of king Samudravijaya of Souripura ; Parsva was born to king Asvasena of Benares and queen Vama of the Iksvaku clan ; finally, Mahavira was also of pure Ksatriya lineage. His father Siddhartha belonged to the Jnatrika clan and mother Trisala was a sister of king Cetaka of Videha.
Similarly, Bhogas who formed a Ksatriya clan, was regarded by Rsabha as worthy of honour by all men. Indeed the Ksatriyas are regarded as the best of people, the opposite being the Candalas. The pride taken by the Ksatriyas in the caste and more particularly in their clans is evident from the remonstrances of Rajimati, the bride-designate of Aristanemi to the latter's elder brother, Rathanemi : "I am the daughter of a Bhoga king and you are an Andhaka-Vrsni. Being born in a noble family let us practise self-control.”
Though these Ksatriya clans were all very proud of their birth, it is interesting to note that not all the clans were of equal status. King Cetaka regarded king Srenika of Rajagrha as born in an inferior family. In a latter story king Siddhvaraja of Gujarat considered Kumarapala, son of king Tribhuvanapala as of low descent.
The question which now poses itself is to determine the denotation of the term Ksatriya. Undoubtedly the oligarchic princes of such clans as Jnatrikas, Mallas, Licchavis, Ugras, Bhogas, Iksvakus, etc., who had close association with the early teachers of Jainism were Ksatriyas. But there is at least one example of a very special use of the term. When Aristanemi-Neminatha came to the city of Bharavi, he was given a hearty welcome by the Mallakis, Ugras, Bhogas, Licchavis and the Ksatriyas. In this list excepting the Ksatriyas all the others were clan names. In most cases, however, the term Ksatriya has been used in its usual Brahmanical sense of nobility in general and not in the very restricted sense in which Hopkins in the Mahābhārata or Fick in the Jātakas understand it. One example will suffice to prove the contention. At the time when Rsabha renounced the world and entered the state of homelessness, the event was witnessed by 4000 nobles, royal persons and Ksatriyas.
Details are wanting in the Jaina texts regarding the cultural attainments of the Ksatriyas. But as has already been stated, all the founders of Jainism were Ksatriyas. Further, there is the mention of people like Sunaksatra, a Licchavi prince among the lay supporters of the Jaina order ; of Dhanva born in the royal family of king Jitasatru of Kakandi