Jain Journal 1991 04

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

Page 42

Identification of Some Rsis as Depicted in Sutrakrtanga
Arun Pratap Singh
The Sutrakṛtānga, the second Anga literature, is one of the earliest Jaina texts. Its first part (śrutaskandha) is supposed to be compiled around 3rd Cent. B.C. It mainly discusses the philosophical views of the Jaina as well as of other schools of thought. The main theme of Sūtrakṛtānga, as it seems, is to refute and condemn the opinions of heretical thoughts and then to confirm the doctrines of the Jinas. In the text we find the name of some Ṛșis who seem to have been prominent thinkers of their time. Sūtrakṛtānga mentions the name of Nami, the king of Videha, Ramaputta, Bahuka, Nārāyaṇa, Asita Devala, Dvaipayana and Parāsara. It is stated that these Ṛsis attained liberation in spite of drinking cold water and taking seeds and sprouts. These Ṛsis are mentioned as the non-Jaina thinkers, notwithstanding they are adorned with venerated words. Now, we have to see whether these thinkers are historical personages or merely legendary ones. In this article, I have endeavoured to identify them and to establish their historicity on the basis of the references given in Buddhist as well as in Vedic texts.
Nami of Vedha-Nami, as in Jaina texts, is known to the Buddhist and Vedic literatures as well. All sources introduce him as the ascetic king of Videha (Mithila). Jātaka literature of Buddhist tradition and the Uttaradhyayana, one of the earliest Jaina texts, proclaim him as a Pratyeka Buddha. Jātaka tells a story that a hawk was flying with a piece of flesh. A vulture attacked him. The piece of flesh fell down which was seized upon by another bird but that bird was also attacked
1 आहंसु महापुरिसा पुब्विं तततबोधणा उदएण सिद्धिभावन्ना तत्थ मंदो विसीयत अभुंजिया नमी विदेही, रामगुत्ते या भुंजिआ बाहुए उदगं भोज्जा तहा नारायणे रिसी ओसिते देविले चैव दीवायण महारिसी पारासरे दगं भोज्जा बीयाणि हरियाणि य एते पृब्वं महापुरिसा आहिता इह संमता भोज्जा after far fa-Sutrakrtanga, 1/3/4/1-4 (ed. Amar Muni, Atma Jnan Pith, Manasa)