Jain Legend Vol 1

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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time. After some time the pair of Vimalav hana and Candrajas gave birth to the second kulakar pair Cak u m na. In the same way, the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh kulakaras were born. Since they established human families, they were called kulakaras. The h k ra mode of punishment carried on in the time of Vimalav hana and Cak u m na. When the word "h" did not work with a criminal the use of “m", or "do not” was used. This stopped people from doing criminal acts. This came to be known as the “m ”k ra” method and continued till the time of the third and fourth kulakaras. Due to the harshness of the times and rudeness of behaviour when “h k ra” and “m k ra” methods started to decline in impact, the dhikk ra (reprimand) method began to be used which continued in the times of the fifth, sixth and seventh kulakaras.
Kulakaras: an analysis
In the latter half of the third part of the third raka of the avasarpi (regressive half) cycle when earth's fertility declined, the production of fruits from the kalpav k as too decreased. In that period those who depended on the kalpav k as started arguing among themselves over the notion of ownership of those trees. When this conflict assumed the form of dispute, spreading chaos, people agreed to chose a special talented person as their leader to end the conflict and maintain order. This way, many kulas were formed and the person managing the kulas came to be known as kulakara. Even if there is unanimity about the system and role of kulakaras opinion is divided in the scriptures when it comes to the number of kulakaras. The Jain gamas - Sth n mga, Samav y mga and Bhagavat and va yakac r i and va yakaniryukti talk of 7-7 kulakaras, viz.:- 1 Vimalav hana, 2 Cak u m na, 3 Ya om na, 4 Abhicandra, 5 Prasenajita, 6 Marudeva and 7 N bhi. But Mah pura mentions 14 and Jamb dv papraj apti speaks of 15 kulakaras.
Paumacariyam in Jamb dv paPraj aptiadds V abhan tha to the list of 14 to make it 15 kulakaras, which is not problematic even if it differs in terms of the required number. Leaving out the first six kulakaras of the 14 and the 11th, Candr bha, the remaining 7 names are in keeping with the Sth n mga. It is possible that the first 6 kulakaras, who looked after the welfare of people and guided them, and unlike the last 7 kulakaras, did not take active part in the system of punishment, etc, hence were considered only secondary in importance. In the same way,
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