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JAIN JOURNAL
Goes to Brahmaloka
(f) Brahmadatta (soul of
Sambhuti) goes to hell 4. Not only in plot but verses quoted
are similar e.g. Utta. Chap 13, Gāthā 26
Jataka No. 498, Gātha 20
The story of the Uttaradhyayana Sūtra is shorter than the Jätaka story. Its language is also archaic. Therefore it seems that the story of Uttarādhyayana is earlier than the Buddhist Jataka story even though it has been taken from some popular folk lore.5 The main object of the story is educating people about the condition and upliftment of men of lower castes.
The story of Gajasukumala, younger brother of Srikrsna is another such story. When Devaki saw six monks of similar age and appearance coming to her house in pairs for alms she enquired of them from Lord Aristanemi. The Lord replied that they were her own sons who were kidnapped on their birth by a god named Harinegamesi and given to a house-holder's wife Sulasa. Devaki felt remorse as she could not rear her own sons and wished for a son whom she could rear. Harinegamesi fulfilled her wish but told her that on attaining youth the boy would renounce the world. When Gajasukumala attained youth Srikrsna married him with a beautiful Brahmin girl named Soma. But the very next day Gajasukumala renounced the world on hearing the preachings of Lord Aristanemi. As he was meditating at night near a cremetorium his fatherin-law who was passing by that way being aggrieved in order to take revenge placed a burning charcoal on his head. Gajasukumala bore with equanimity the affliction and attained salvation.
This narrative of Gajasukumala is comparable to the story of Yasa's renunciation as found in Buddhist literature.Points of similarities are as follows:
1. Kidnapping of babies by the god Harinegamesi 2. Mother's desire for a son for rearing 3. Birth of a son and rearing him up
- Charpentier, the Uttaradhyayanasutra, 1922, p. 451. 5 Ghatage, A.M., 'A few Parallels in Jain and Buddhist Works', paper published in
Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol. 17 (1935-36), p. 342. • Muni 'Kamala', Dharmakathanuyoga, Ahmedabad, 1984 ; Sramanakathanaka,
p. 23, etc. ? Mahavagga (Payvajjakatha), Nalanda, pp. 18-21.
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