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Rishibhashit : A Study
18. VAIRISHENA KRISHNA
The 18th chapter of Rishibhashit167 is about the discourse of Varishena Krishna (Varisava Kanha). Besides Rishibhashit Varishen has also been mentioned in Sthanang168. In Samvayang 169 the four Jin idols mentioned are Rishabha, Mahavir, Chandranan, and Varishena; Chandranan and Varishena are said to be the first and last Teerthankars of Airavata sector. Besides this, in Sthanang a branch of the Kashyap clan has been named as Variskanha'. In Antkritdasha170 Varishen is said to be a Antkrit Rishi and son of Vasudev.
All this at least confirms that he was a Rishi contemporary to Krishna and Arishtanemi. The second syllabie Kanha' (Krishna) of his name in Rishibhashit calls for a further study. Being the son of Vasudev is he not Krishna himself ?
In this chapter it is stated that one who indulges in the prohibited or evil activities, from violence to possessiveness and passions to illusions, begets amputation of limbs. He who does not indulge in these begets omniscience. (The imputation of limbs is also refered to in 9th and 15th chapter of Rishibhashit.) In conclusion it is stated that as bird pierces a fruit, enemy divides the state, and lotus leaf is uneffected by water, the seeker should pierce and destroy the fruit of karma and remain uneffected by evil karma;
In the Bhishmparva of Mahabharat171 one of names of Krishna is said to be Varshneya. He is called Varshneya because he belonged to the Vrishni clan. In Upanishads and Brahmans172 as well, people belonging to the Vrishni clan have been mentioned as varshneya or varshnya. The Prakrit form of vrishni is vanhi and that of Varishen is Varisava and there is a possibility that the Sanskrit form of varis may be vrishni.
However, all this confirms that he was an ascetic contemporary of Arishtanemi. In Pali literature, Ambatthsutta of Deeghnikaya mentions one Krishna Rishi suggesting that Ambattha was a follower of his tradition. Similarly in Aupapatic sutra a branch of Brahman mendicants is named Kanha. It is possible that Varisava Kanha was the founder of this branch. In Aupapatik another branch of Brahman mendicants is named Deevayan Kanha (Dvaipayan Krishna). As such the former must have been connected with Varisava Kanha only.
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