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PROLEGOMENA TO PRAKRITICA et JAINICA
The truth very probably was that the two ascetics joined and lived together for sometime during the years of their probation. Difference of opinion on very important matters separated the two as we can infer from the Bhagavati account. 40 Their joint life must have been of short duration, one year only, which was prolonged in later accounts to six years.
II. THE BRAHMANIC SCHOOLS
About the cult of popular Brahmanism we have many references in Jaina literature. Many Brahmaņas and Śramaņas support it, they claim to have seen, heard, acknowledged, thoroughly understood in the upper, nether, and side-long directions, and in all ways to have examined it; with such extensive experience and deep wisdom they declare that all sorts of living beings may be slain or tormented or treated with violence or abused or driven away, and there is no wrong in it.11
41
The creation and governance of the world by the gods, as taught by some philosophers, has been regarded as an error. 42 This can be attributed to the Brahmans, for no other contemporary school would regard the gods as creators or governors of the world.
The creation of the universe, according to a "great Rşi" whose name is neither mentioned in the text nor preserved by Śīlāņka or Harṣakulą, is by Svayambhu;43 according to some Brāhmaṇas and Śramaņas it is from the primeval egg. Both of these evidently refer to Brahmanical views and this conclusion is corroborated by the allusions to the doctrine of Brahman almost in the same breath with these
44
40. Bhag. 15.554. 41. Acar.S.I.iv.2.3. 42. Sut. S. I.i.3.5. 43. Sut.S. I.i.3.7. 44. Sut.S. I.i.3.8
