Jain Journal 1977 01

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

Page 11

JAIN JOURNAL
of motifs may also be noticed in the prodigious and multi-hued concepts of the Mahaya na Buddhism. If considered in the context of human groups diffusing culture before, during, and after the Urban Revolution since prehistoric times the symbolism derived from animals and other motifs will reveal, as it appears, a heritage from distant past. The ideals and motifs disappearing with the buried vestiges of civilizations have often been traced in the faith and convention of surviving cultures. If considered from this stand-point the cult-figure of monkey associated with Abhinandana, the 4th Tirthankara may likewise offer a history of its own or at least a distinctive feature of a very ancient religion. According to the legend, Abhinandana was the son of Sambara and Siddhartha who ruled in Ayodhya. Due to the immense prosperity of the city when he was in his mother's womb he was named Abhinandana signifying a respectful welcome. His emblem was a monkey which may be observed as usual in the image of the Jina. This emblem evokes significant comparisons in the perspective of cultural ideals and the memory of folk-lore and icons through the ages. The representation of a simian deity, a guardian of knowledge and sublime ideals can be noticed in the religion and art of Egypt where Thoth or Tehuti created by Ra, the Sungod and the Lord of creation, has been attributed the forms of the sacred ibis, the crane or the dog ape. In the iconographic art of Dynastic Egypt Thoth, the healing god and the presiding deity of Learning is represented as having the head of an ibis or the dog ape. According to the Egyptian myth as recorded by Donald A. Mackenzie, Ra, the sun-god spoke to Thoth “For thee, O Thoth, I shall make a resplendent abode in the great deep and the under-world which is Duat. Thou shalt record the sins of men, and the names of those who are mine enemies; in Duat thou shalt bind them. Thou shalt be temporary dweller in my palace; thou art my deputy. Lo I now give messengers unto thee." As desired by Ra "came into being by his power the ibis, the crane, and the dog ape, the messengers of Thoth.”2 Donald A. Mackenzie observes that “Here the old lunar deity Thoth is associated with the dawn. The chattering of apes at sunrise gave origin to the idea that they worshipped the rising sun.”3 This interpretation achieves a greater dimension in the light of a general analysis of folk-lore and mythology in India which either idealises or deifies the monkey. In fact, the Buddhist legends are eloquent of this aspect having their place of honour in the reliefs of Bharhut and Sanchi. Thus, the Mahakapi Jataka (No. 407) relates the tale of the Bodhisattva when he was born as a monkey. The Mahakapi, a leader of monkeys greatly impressed the king of Benares by his heroic nobility and sacrifice 1 Egyptian Myth and Legend, p. 11. * Ibid. 3 Ibid. foot-note.