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Rishibhashit : A Study
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8. KETALIPUTTA
The preachings of Ketaliputta have been compiled in the eighth chapter of Rishibhashit107. Besides Rishibhashit no other source provides any information about him. Other Jain canons or later works of fiction do not have any mention of Ketaliputta. Buddhist and Vedic traditions are also silent about him. As such it is difficult to say who he was. Even in Rishibhashit no more than his short discourse is available. The tenth chapter of Rishibhashit is about Tettaliputta. Teftaliputta is also mentioned in Jnata, Anuttaropapatik, Avashyak-churni, Isimandal and its Vritti.
There is a possibility that due to variation in pronunciation, two names of the same person were in use and on this basis the two names were later accepted as two different persons. However, in absence of conclusive evidences nothing more can be said about this.
in Rishibhashit Ketaliputta preaches that in the mundane life (Aram) an individual has two attributes and in the liberated state (Param) only one. As such, like a silk worm, one should break all the ties and attain liberation. The use of the terms Aram for this world and Param for liberation can also be found in Acharanga and Sutrakritang. This proves antiquity of these preachings.
The statement, 'life has two attributes and liberation one', can be explained and elaborated in many ways. Some examples are : Life has knowledge and acitivity and in liberation only knowledge is there. Life has attachment and aversion but liberation has only detachment. This discourse of Ketaliputta indicates that he must have been some mystical ascetic of that period. In absence of any concrete information about him, it is difficult to comment about his historical details as well.
9. MAHAKASHYAP
The ninth chapter of Rishibhashit108 has the discourse of Mahakashyap. In India Kashyap is a well known clan name. Even Mahavir and Rishabha are supposed to be of Kashyap clan. Sutrakritang109 has even mentioned Mahavir as "Virena-kasaven Mahesina." Similarly in Bhagavati Sutra110 also there is a mention of a monk named Kashyap belonging to the tradition of Parshwa. As such it is difficult to decide who is this Mahakashyap. in Uttaradhyayan-churnilli, the father of Kapil Brahman is said to be Kashyap. Also in Antakritadasha112 we find a mention of Kashyap Gathapati. But in my opinion non of these have any
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