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Rishibhashit : A Study
Sheelanka, the commentator of Sutrakritang imagined of two persons-Asit and Deval, based on the word Asite-Devile', but according to Rishibhashit it is proved that Asit Deval is one person, not two. Isimanda/66 has referred to him as a person devoid of lust. Isimandal Vritti, a work of 13th-14th century A. D., has given the full life history of Asit Deval. It mentions that he became infatuated with his own daughter, but with the help of true knowledge he got rid of his lust. This also proves that he was basically connected with ascetic tradition.
Buddhist Tripitak literature also refers to him as a Rishi. Aslayana Sutta67 of Majjhim Nikaya gives us some details about him. The story narrated is that once seven Brahman scholars lived in a jungle. They believed that Brahman is the highest cast and they are the true progeny of Brahma. When Asit Deval opposed the belief the Brahmans cursed him. When the spell of the curse did not effect Asit Deval the Brahmans considered their practices to be useless and sought clarification of their doubts from Asit Deval. Asit answered their questions and in the end they became his followers.
Buddhaghosh has referred to Asit Deval as Bodhisattva in Mahavansh (-705). Besides this. Indriya Jatak 68 also mentions Deval as Kala-Deval. In this Jatak tale Narad is younger brother of Asit Deval and there is a mention of Asit Deval as a Sanyasi who also tries to free his younger brother Narad from the worldly ties.
In the Hindu tradition we find mention of Asit Deval in Mahabharat and Gita. In Mahabharat Asit Deval has been mentioned in Adiparva69 Sabhaparva, 70 Shalyaparva71, Shantiparva72 and Anushasanparva73. In Shalyaparva Asit Deval has been shown as a house-holder practicing religious asceticism, this is also confirmed by Jain sources. It is also stated here that Asit Deval was equanimous and highly advanced ascetic, This chapter also relates the dialogue between Asit Deval and Jegishavya. The most important fact related in this chapter is that he left the duties of a house-holder and became sanyasi through the influence of Jegishavya's preachings.
Shantiparva has also presented Jegishavya preaching equanimity to Asit Deval. These facts indicate that in the begining Asit Deval was practicing as a house-holder and latter, becoming sanyasi, practiced equanimity. In another chapter of Shanti-parva (275) is mentioned the dialogue between Narad and Asit Deval. In this chapter Deval establishes, five fundamentals, time, existence and void; the eight eternal basics; and proposes the origin of creation from these basics. In this chapter he
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