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A Note on Lord Mahâvîra's Clan
Will it not be proper if we say that only after the introduction of the story of interchange of embryo the Lord was known as Ksatriya? It can be assumed also that in order to validate the change of embryo this story in Bhagavati is inserted but that possibility is not there because in that case the question of relation of Trisala should arise which is not there.
Here we may mention the other possibility also. The Buddha and the Mahâvîra-both of them have propagated that only the right type of a Bhiksu can be called a Brahmin or Mahana. In this sense the Lord may have been called a Mahana. Now let us see what information we get from the Jaina literature about the clan of the Lord and the Naya kula. It is certain that amongst the Vedic this Naya kula was not well known. Hence we find its mention very rare in the Vedic Puranas.2
And it is surprising to note that even in Jaina literature the Nayavamsa is given the prominent place in later times. An attempt is made to relate it with the famous Iksvakuvamsa or to separate it from the same. This shows that the authors were not certain about the real position of the clan Naya.
There are two clear traditions regarding the prominent Vamsas. One is represented by Jaina Canonical literature and its Niryukti etc. and other is of the Jaina Puranas. This will be clear from the following table. Avasyaka Niryukti. (193)
Visesavasyaka (1610), 1829)
Bhagavati (20.8)
(9.33)3
99
4
Ugga Bhoga Rainna These Khattiya
99
Ikkhaga Naya, Koravva Harivamsa.
X
X
99
X
constituted the retinue of Rsabha.
99
""
X
Sthananga (497)
Prajnapana (104)
Kalpasutra (17)
Brhatkalpa (3265) Paumacariya
Ikkhaga Soma Vijjaħara Vanara Rakkhasa Hurivamsa In the Avasyakaniryukti it is said that Ikkhaga Vamsa began
X
149
37
35
Bhada
X
X
X
