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The story of Arjuna Malakara reveals how a hard-hearted man becomes a man of piety. We know the story of Valmiki who became a saint from a robber. Similar is the story of Angulimala in the Buddhist literature.22 In the story of Arjuna Malakara the Yaksa enters into the body of Arjuna.
JAIN JOURNAL
The Yaksa entering into someone else's body was a popular theme in those days23 and scholars have especially studied this motive. 24
The story of Dhanya Anagara, son of a Sarthavaha, is presented as an example of hard penance. The condition of his body during penance has been described in Anuttaropapātika Sutra. Similar description is found in the Buddhist literature about the penance of Lord Buddha.
The story of Harikesibal as given in the Uttaradhyayana Sutra is to denounce casteism. A recluse has no caste. 25 It is only the penance which is important. The futility of yajñas had been exposed and charity to a deserving person has been recommended. Similar is the story of Matanga Jātaka.26
Besides, the above stories, there are many other stories in the Jaina Agamas. Among them the story of Siva Rajarsi, Jinapalita and Jinaraksita, Udaka Pedhalaputra, etc. are important ones. These are meant for dissimination of religious teachings but no less important are their narrative art. It is therefore essential to find out their genesis.27 It is equally important to have a comparative study of Jaina and Buddhist narratives.28
33 Majjhimanikaya, 2, p. 102 etc.
* Panzer, N.M., Kathasritsagara, Vol. 1, Chap. 4, p. 37.
24 Bloomfield, 'On the Art of Entering in Other's Body', Proceedings of American Philosophical Society, 56-1.
35 Uttaradhyayanasutra, Chap. XII.
* Matanga Jataka (No. 497), Part IV, pp. 583-97.
27 Jain, J.C., Prakrit Narrative Literature (Genesis & Growth), Delhi, 1982.
a Jain, P.S., Introduction of Dharmakathanuyoga, Part II, Sanderav, 1984.
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