Jain Journal 1985 10

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

Page 5

Samprati—the Patron of Jainism
BINOD KUMAR TIWARY
Among the successors of Asoka, Samprati had his own importance in the Mauryan history. He was son of Kunala1 and after the death of Dasaratha, captured the throne of Pataliputra. The fact that the Jaina tradition refers to the building activities of Samprati in Rajasthan and further west 2 and the mention of the Jaina sources that he ruled from Pataliputra and also from Ujjain shows that he ruled over the entire territory both in the east as well as in the west.4
So far the enthusiasm of king Samprati is concerned towards Jainism, he is said to be one of the leading stars of Jaina history in Ancient India. He received Jaina initiation from the great Arya Suhasthis and the records speak of the latter's stay at Ujjain off and on. Hemacandra describes the king's zeal during the stay of Suhasthi at Ujjain in these words, “During Suhasthi's stay at Ujjain, and under his guidance, splendid religious festivals were held and processions in honour of the Arhats were taken out and great was the devotion manifested by the king and his subjects on these occasions." The Jaina texts say that he was a devout Jaina and encouraged all attempts of its propagation. In the matter of propa. gation of the Jaina faith, Jaina records speak as highly of Samprati as the Buddhist records do of Asoka.8 During his time, the Jaina religion flourished through out the Aryadesa which consisted of twentyfour and a half countries.
The Vyhatkalpabhāsya informs us that Samprati erected Jaina temples and monasteries throughout his domain. 10 V. A. Smith goes on the extent
i Parisistaparva, IX, 34-35; JBORS, Vol. XLV, p. 467. * Possibly he was the governor of these regions before ascending the throne of
Pataliputra, 3 Parisistaparya, X. XI. * Roychoudhary, Political History of Ancient India, p. 291. * Parisistaparva, II, 23.66 ; Kalpasutra, Subodhika Tika, v. 6. . Ibid., p. 60. ? Ibid., II, IX. 54. 8 C. J. Shah, Jainism in Northern India, p. 144. • The Vrhatkalpabhasya Vrtti and Viyahapannatti sutra give the names of these coun
tries, important amongst them being Magadha, Anga, Vanga, Kosala, Kuru,
Pancala, Saurastra, Videha, Vatsa, Cedi, Sindhu-Sauvira, Kunala and Ladha. 10 Gathas 3285-89.