Jainism in Buddhist Literature

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Alok Prakashan

Page 26

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Samapas in Jaina and Buddhist literature
The Samanas in Jaina and Buddhist literature are represented as "worker" (from Šram, to strive) in spiritual life who attain salvation through their own efforts. They are accorded high honour both within their circles and without. The Mahavagga refers to Samana who is honoured by the bhikkhus. Päli literature mentions usually, besides the Buddha, the wellknown six Samaņas, the so-called heretical teachers of outstanding position in the community.
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Sometimes the term Samana is used in Pali literature, as an adjective showing respect towards the designated teacher. The Buddha himself is called Mahasamana, and his followers Sakyaputtiya Samanas34. So the followers of the Nigantha Nätaputta are designated the Samana Nigantha or, to be exact, the Niganthanama Samaṇajātikā35. Samaṇa-Brahmaṇa in Jaina and Buddhist literature
Buddhist literature, specially the Pali Canon, uses a compound designation "Samana-Brahmana" to denote a religious sect that is opposed to the caste superiority of the Brahmana community and its ritualism Likewise, the Jaina literature also mentions Šamaṇa-Mahaṇaḥ and Mahaṇa-Samaṇā 37
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T. W. Rhys Davids rightly says that Samana connotes both asceticism and inward peace, He is of the view that "Samaṇa-Brahmana should therefore mean, a man of any birth who by his saintliness, by his renunciation of the world, and by his reputation as a religious thinker, had acquired a position of a quasi-Brahmana and was looked up to by the people with as much respect as they looked up to a Brahmana by birth. Jaina literature also gives the same connotation to this term 39."'
Sometimes the term Samaṇa-Brahmana is also used in Păli literature for the followers of the Brahmana community. The Brahmajälasutta and some other suttas refer to them as kecit Samana Brahmaṇā. And in some places it is used for any follower of any sect as mentioned in the course of the sixty-two wrong views (micchadithi ). Thus the term Samana-Brahmana is