Repetition In Jaina Nrative Literature

Author(s): Klaus Bruhn
Publisher: Klaus Bruhn

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Repetition in Jaina narrative literature
33
L. D. Barnett (Barnett, Ant.) was to a large extent the basis of our analysis. For the Digambara concept of ten antakrts (appearing under each of the 24 Jinas) refer to the dictionaries 20.
Ant. is a work of Varga Literature, and as such has been introduced by our observations on this genre in SS 2-4. The works or texts of the Varga Lit. are not as uniform in character as one might expect, and a certain lack of uniformity is also observed if we compare the eight chapters or vargas within Ant. in relation to one another. There is a dichotomy of « narrative units » and « variation units », as mentioned in § 3 supra. But some narration units are more original than others. Likewise some variation units are more detailed than others (differences which are irrelevant if taken by themselves but which cannot be ignored in an analysis). Here we mention only the more noteworthy motifs from the narrative units:
Gautama (I, 1)
parents want to see their son at least one
day in royal state 21; . Gajasukumāra (III, 8) mother (Devakī) separated from her children,
trial-story (Gajasukumāra), Krsna and the
brick-carrier; Padmāvati (V, 1) prophecy (Krşņa's future, destruction of
Dvāravati); Arjunaka (VI, 3) man (Arjunaka) possessed by a yakşa, trial
story (again Arjunaka); Atimukta (VI, 15) boy-friar (Atimukta) 22.
The eighth and last varga differs in its structure from the rest and is mainly concerned with dogmatical matters (upavāsa arithmetics).
$ 6. General Analysis of Antakyddaśāḥ
Before starting our exposition we have to warn the reader that Antakrddaśāh is a work where « understanding » (Verstehen) is not to be used in the usual sense. We have to disentangle a literary composition which is (along with others) exceptional even by ancient Indian standards.
20. JSK I, p. 2, JSK IV, p. 68*. JLA I, pp. 83-4.
21. SCHUBRING, Nāyā., p. 12, lines 21 foll.; p. 15, lines 13 foll. (parallel version in Jnātpdharmakathāh I, 1).
22. SCHUBRING, Worte, p. 19 (parallel version in the Vyākhyāprajñapti: DELEU, Viy., V, 4, 3).