________________
28
7. KUMMAPUTTA
Seventh chapter of Rishibhashit99 contains the preachings of Kummaputta (Kurmaputra). In Jain tradition, alongwith Rishibhashit, mention of Kummaputta can also be found in Visheshavashyak-bhashya100 Avashyak-churni 101, commentry of Aupapatik102 and Visheshanvati103 of Haribhadra. Isimanda/104 (Rishimandal) also mentions him. But in all these works his detailed life history is not available. That is available in the vritti of Rishimandal and Kummaputtachariyam, but both these works are of a period later than the twelfth century. In the ancient Jain Literature he has been shown as a dwarf and his height was said to be about three feet. He is supposed to have attained omniscience while he was a house-holder. These details confirm that he was a Rishi of the ancient Sraman tradition.
Rishibhashit A Study
In Rishibhashit he preaches desirelessness or non attachment. The most important part of his preachings is that he considers desire to be the cause of sorrow. He stipulates that if a lethargic person can be happy by becoming desireless there can be nothing against an intelligent and deligent ascetic deriving happiness through being desireless. In fact this preaching of his is parallel to Anasakta-yoga of Gita.
Besides Jain tradition we also find mention of Kummaputta Ther in Buddhist tradition. In Thergatha105 and Atthakatha of Apadan106 the story of Kummaputta can be found in detail. In his previous birth he had given oil for massage on feet to Vippasi Buddha. As a result of this good deed he was born in the family of a house-holder in Velutkantaka city of Avanti. His mother's name was Kumma, that is why he was called Kumma-putta (the son Kumma). He accepted monkhood on hearing preachings of Sariputta. While meditating about Karmasthan he attained Arhat-hood through Vipashyana (a yogic practice).
A mention of Kummaputta Sayather is also available in Thergatha. This person was, infact, an assistant of Kummaputta, or a monk near to him. As such he is different from Kummaputta. Both Jain and Buddhist traditions are concommitant on the fact that his name was Kummaputta because of his mother's name. At the same time it is true that the essence of his preachings is detachment and purity of thought. It is possible that he was either of an earlier period or a contemporary of Mahavir and Buddha. As regards vedic tradition, no reference could be found about Kummaputta.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
