Narrative Tale in Jain Literature

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Asiatic Society

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NARRATIVE TALE IN JAIN LITERATURE
narratives of the sons of Käla and others who entered the order under Mahāvīra and attained various heavens as a result of their religious practices. The Pupphiyā narrates the story of Angaï of Savatthi who was initiated into the order by Pārsva and who was consequently born as a moon in the lunar region as a result of his monastic discipline. The next interesting story is that of Somila, the learned Brahmin, who was almost converted by Pārsva; but he grows slack, adopts Brahmanic ways of life by planting trees etc., and becomes a Disāpokkhiya monk. A god, however, enlightened him; he resumed Jaina vows; and after severe penances he became Šukra planet and would attain liberation in due course. Subhadra yearned for children, but she had none. She became first a lay woman and then a nun in the Jaina church; but her longing for children remained and she began to fondle the children of others. Though banished from the monastic congregation, she remained a nun but continued nursing children. Consequently she was born as an attendant-goddess Bahuputrikā. In the next birth she was born as Soma, was married to a Brahmin Rāṣṭrakūṭa and had sixteen twins within sixteen years. She got disgusted with this life, entered the order, and in due course attained liberation. The Pupphacula narrates stories of ladies who were good disciples of the nun Pupphacula and secured heavenly status. Bhūtā, for instance, was a pupil of Pārsva and was admitted to the order of nuns. She had a fancy for washing everything with water against monastic rules. As a result of this, she first reached only the heaven and then attained liberation later in the Mahāvideha country. The Vanhidasão gives stories of twelve Vṛṣṇi princes, the sons of Baladeva. The glories attained by prince Nisaḍha, the disciple of Nemi, are explained by a reference to his past life as prince Virangada who practised penance for fortyfive years, was subsequently born in heaven and then became Nisaḍha. As to his future, he would become a monk, go to heaven and then later attain liberation.
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The Vivagasuyam, as its title indicates, gives narratives to illustrate the unhappy and happy consequences of wicked and pious acts. The first section gives ten stories illustrating the fruits of wicked acts; while the second gives