Jain Journal 1991 04

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

Page 47

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JAIN JOURNAL
happiness. Asita Devala, as Mahābhārata mentions him, is said to have held discussions on equanamity with old revered Rși Jaigisabhya. He says that a man should take insult as nectar, an honour as poison. As in Buddhist texts, he is associated with Rși Närada in Vedic texts also. Preaching to Närada he asks him to eliminate pāpa as well as punya. Only Jñana Yoga, according to him should be followed.27
As Mahābhārata says, Asita Devala seems to have been an old Rşi—not only in age but also in penance. As Jaina tradition refers to him as a Rşi who took seeds and sprouts and drank cold water, Mahābhārata also mentions him as a Risi who practised penance dwelling in house-hold life. Still he had been given the highest regard. He was a great ascetic and conqueror of passions. He had deep faith in religion and had equnimity with all.
The references prove him to be an historical person who was most probably prior to Mahāvira and the Buddha,
Dvaipāyana-Dvaipāyana is mentioned in many texts of Jaina tradition such as Rşibhāṣita, 28 Samavāyanga, 29 Aupapātika, 30 Antak rtddasā31 and Daśavaikālika Cūrni, 32 Besides Sūtrakrtānga the Rşibhā sita, in its 14th chapter describes his teachings in detail. He preaches to destory the desires because it is desire which leads a man to the path of sorrow. Desire, according to him, is the root cause of loss of everything. It is the cause of life and death. Without destroying desire one cannot conquer the passions. Lack of desire is the first step to the path of liberation,
He is known to Vedic tradition and has been mentioned in detail in Mahābhārata. He, the son of Maharşi Parāsara was the celebrated author of Epic Mahābhārata,33 His preaching on mokşa dharma is to be found in detail in Mahābhārata. He is said to have won sex, anger,
27 Mahabharata, Santi Parva, 229/5, 275,4-39 28 Rsibhasita, Chapter 40 29 Samavayanga Sutra, 159 (Prakirnaka) 30 Aupapatika Sutra, 38 31 Antakrtdasa, Part II 32 Dasavaikalika Curni, p. 41 33 Mahabharata, Adi Parva, 1/54, 55