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Rishibhashit : A Study
51
25. AMBAD PARIVRAJAK
The twenty fifth chapter of Rishibhashit194 is about Ambad Parivrajak. In Jain canonical literature his mention can be found, besides Rishibhashit, in Samvayang,195 Bhagwati 196 Aupapatik,197 and Sthanang,198 also. In Samvayang he is believed to be a future teerthankar in the next time cycle (ascending). According to Bhagwati-sutra he was a parivrajak living in Sravasti town. The incident of Ambad Sanyasi accepting Sravak Dharma (Jain religion) after a dialogue with Mahavir is narrated in Bhagwati and Aupapatik sutras. This indicates that inspite of having faith in Mahavir's religion he maintained his independent tradition.
Aupapatik also conveys that a branch of Brahman Parivrajaks carried his name. This branch probably continued till the present edition of Aupapatik was concluded, which was around 4th-5th century A. D. Similarly according to Sthanang the tenth chapter of Antakritdasha was about Ambad Parivrajak. However, this chapter is not found in the present edition of Antakritdasha. Aupapatik has also described in details the system of conduct of Ambad and other Brahman Parivrajaks. However, complete analysis of all that is not possible here, due to lack of space.
Aupapatik narrates in details the incident of how Ambad Parivrajak and his disciples courted death, accepting the vow of Sallekhana (fast till death) in a forest on the banks of the Ganges while they were on their way to Purimtaal town. It was during summer, on sand, and was done following their discipline of not taking water without being offered by someone. For a comparative study this narration is important and presents a vivid picture of the conduct followed by the tradition of Amdad Parivrajak. In the Jain canonical literature Ambad has been mentioned everywhere with due reverence.
In Buddhist tradition 199 we find a mention of Ambatth Manavak. According to the Buddhist tradition Ambatth was a disciple of Brahman Poshkar Saati. He had a debate with Bhagvan Buddha on the subject of superiority of Brahmans. Whereas Ambatth accused the Shaky as of belonging to lower caste, other people demeaned Ambatth by calling him son of a slave woman. In conclusion of this discussion Buddha asserts the importance of conduct in the formulation of the caste system. In this narration the point worth considering is that Ambatth has been addressed as Krishnayan or belonging to the lineage of Krishna Rishi. As is known, a school of Brahman Parivrajaks is named Kanha according to Aupapatik. It is a possibility that the Krishna Rishi mentioned in Ambatth-sutta was Varişaya Kanha of Rishibhashit,
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