Sambodhi 2012 Vol 35

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 32

22
Bansidhar Bhatt
SAMBODHI
adopted a parivrājaka mode of asceticism, as śramaņas, i.e. wandering ascetics (see below). In Marici-episode interwoven within the Rsabha legend of the Av.Nir. in Jainism, Marici adopted the parivrājaka mode of asceticism. The early parivrājakas described in the Bharata Sage have their behaviour somehow akin to that of the Ajīvakas, of the păsatthas, kusīlas, etc. and of the Saivas or Pāśupatas (see below).
We have discussed topic no.1, (Bhatt. Pārsva $26.4) and topic no.2 (Bhatt, Pārsva. $$12.3, 26.4). So far the topic no.3 is concerned, we have shown some similarities in ascetic conduct of the Ajīvakas, Saivas, Pāśupatas and Jaina monks (see $$1-9).
The parivrājakas (no. 2 above) are also considered as one of the five types of śramanas - "wandering monks” in Jainism. The other four types of śramanas are the Nirgranthas (Jaina naked monks), the Sākyas (the Buddhists), tāpasas (ascetics with severe penances and having matted hair) and the Ājīvakas. Leumann (p. 66, Kl. Sch. p. 389) further traced them all scattered in Jaina text (see Ni. Bh. 13.163a Ind. St. 16. p. 381, fn-1; Sīlānka on Āc. I. 2.2.; Abhayadeva on Sthāna 3.2; Pvs. $94, vss 739–741). According to Leumann, an early Brahmanical tradition supplies names of such ten parivrājakas, e.g. Samvartaka, Svetaketu-Aruni, Durvāsas, Rbhu, Nidāgha, jada-Bharata, Dattātreya, Raivataka, Paksa and Rsabhadeva. Among them, Samvartaka belongs to the earliest generation and Rsabha(deva) is a parivrājaka of the youngest tradition, i.e. the 10th generation !
Samvartaka is referred to in Ait. Br. 8.21.14 and Satapatha Br. 13.5.4.6. According to the MBh. (Samvarta-Māruttiya 14, ch.5). Samvartaka is the younger son of Angiras, the elder son is Brhaspati. In Bhāgavata Purāna (ch.5) Bharata is the son of Rsabha, but in Vāyu Purāņa (ch.1) he is the son of Dusyanta. In Vișnu Purāņa (ch.2) the Bharata episode belongs to the fifth generation from Manu. But the Bharata episode as a whole is mixed up with sectarianism; with Sāmkhya, Vedānta, etc. Bhāgavata Purāna (5.9.12.20) and Vāyu Purāna (ch.1) describe the ascetic Bharata as if he is unmatta (intoxicated), jada (senseless, indifferent or negligent in worldly affairs), i.e. mad (cp. unmattavat jadavat svasamsthām gatasya me; Vayu Purāna. See Leumann's scholarly analysis of the relevant Brahmanical texts on pp. 67 ff. Kl.Sch. pp. 390 ff). Here, the