Jain Journal 1982 10

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

Page 24

60
that Mudgala achieved for the world, many people, or followers of his to see (8) "14
When a careful study of the views of Dr. H. L. Jain and Dr. T. S. Mainkar is made on the verse it is difficult to arrive at a conclusion in the light of the Jaina tradition.
The identity of Kesi15 and Muni with his use of ochre robes and his distinctive condition of ecstasy is quite clear in the Kesi-sūkta, along with the account of Vatarasana Munis.16
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So it will not be improper to accept the existence of Nirgrantha Dharma in old form in 1500 B.C. on the basis of the existence of Vatarasana Munis with their leader Kesi, as mentioned in the rcas of the Rgveda the date of which is assigned by modern Euro-Indian scholars to 1500 B.C.
The Rise of Nirgrantha Dharma:
Now the first question is whether Kesi, as pointed out by Dr. H. L. Jain, can be identified with Rsabhadeva or not.
The Jaina canonical works throw some light upon the beginning of culture under the leadership of the Jaina mythical first culture-hero, Rsabha in the hoary past. Their historicity and authenticity may be questioned, but they are the living realities for a study of the rise of Nirgrantha Dharma and the infra-structure of Nirgrantha Samgha. At the core of the Jaina canonical works dealing with the life of Rsabha lay a myth. But this is no reason to argue that myths were or are unreal, for a myth is not fiction, false or an illusion. Nor is it a tale or fable. Myths are an important aspect of reality shrouded in the labyrinth of legends and are no less important than the facts of history. Myths are, positively speaking, living entities. In the Jaina traditional society myths have provided examplary models of human behaviour, of ideas and ideals all as a part of a sacred tradition, which has sustained and nourished the Jaina society in which they have flourished. Thus the Jaina myths have
14 Ibid., p. 28.
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16
kesyagnim kesi visam kesi bibharti rodasi kesi visvam svandrse kesidam jyotirucyate -Rgveda, 10. 136. 1.
munayo vatarasanah pisanga vaste mala vatasyanudhrajim yanti yaddevaso aviksata -Rgveda 10. 136. 2.