Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 1

Author(s): Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker
Publisher: Parimal Publication

Page 49

point to be noted here is that the Jaina tradition that is founo in all the Jaina works of Sanskrit and Tāmil, makes it clear that these Vidyādharas were followers of A-hirisā Dbarma because of their association with Lori Rişabha. As followers of Ahimsā Dharma, they were certainly worshippers of Jina and were deadly opposed to animal sacrifice which was prevalent about that time.
There is an interesting Chapter in Padma Purang-the Juina Rāmāyana-with the heading “ Maruta yajña Dhvarsa Parva" the chapter dealing with the destruction of Yāga or animal saorifice proposed to be performer under the patronage of Maruta. Rāvana who was ruling in Lankā and who prevented any of animal sacrifice throughout his kingdom, comes to know of the elaborate preparation made by Maruta for conducting Yāga according to Brahmanic Vedic rites. He hastened to prevent this, destroyed all the preparations made therein, drove away the congregations from the place of Yăga-śālā, and issued strict orders to his officers not to permit any kind of sacrifice within his jurisdiction. This story clearly indicates the fact that these Vidyadh. ara kings who were in the South were of the Risabha oult and hence were strictly opposed to Vedic sacrifice in the form of Yajāa. This obviously explains why there was so much opposition between the so-called Raksasas of the South and Aryan invaders of the North and why the Aryan Rishis had to obtain armed help for the connuct of their Vèdic sacrifices as a proteo tion against the interference by the Rākshasas? Taking an impartial view of these Jaina traditions it would not be altogether wrong to suggest that thrungbout India there was prevalent the Rişabha cult of A-hirsā, it only in the North India but also in the South. That the Rişablia cult had been prevalent in
This clearly shows that so early as 5000-7000 B, C, which is generally considered to be the latest time of the Vedio period, the Tirtbankaras were worshipped in India. This ought to convinoe anyone that Jainism dates trurn very remote antiquity and that it has prevailed in at least side by side with Hinduism long before Gautama Buddha was born.