Book Title: Sramana 2000 01
Author(s): Shivprasad
Publisher: Parshvanath Vidhyashram Varanasi

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Page 162
________________ 2. 3. 4. 5. 843 region (Ardhacakravarti) and not the divine personality as found in Vedic tradition. He was, of course, an adherent of seven Ratnas and a remover of clashes and unrest. He was also a supernatural personality but could not be detached completely with the worldly affairs. Lord Kṛṣṇa is considered to be a prominent character in Jaina literature. The Vasudeva may be an epithet or an ancient title of an honour which was used by Vasudeva Kṛṣṇa also like Kāśīrāja Pondrika. In later period, some sorts of amusements (Līlās) etc. were added to the character of Kṛṣṇa, which are also described by the Hindi Jaina writers. Jaina traditions, in fact, worshipped him as a warrior. Draupadi is an other important character of the Mahabharata who created more and more problems to both, Kauravas and Pandavas. Differences in versions are more found in this character. According to Mahabharata, Draupadi was Ayonijā who was blessed by Lord Siva for having five husbands as she uttered the sentence "I intend to have a wise husband" for five times. As a result, she got the five husbands in her next birth 1 as Draupadi. Draupadi is also said to be a daughter of Rși in her previous birth. The Jaina version of Mahābhārata mentions so many other stories of previous births like Sukumālikā and Nāgaśri who had five husbands in next birth due to Nidāna Karma and not the blessing of Śiva. Draupadi was born at Pañcāla,2 while the Jaina sources name it as Kampilyapur,3 Mākaṇḍa Nagari4 and Kākandi Nagarī which can be identified with the present district of Devaria. Drupada was the father in both the traditions. But the Mahābhārat keeps her birth from the Yajñakuṇḍa and says her as Ayonijā while the Jaina tradition names her mother as Bhogawati and father as Draḍharatha.7 Both the versions agree on the Radhāvedha or Candrakavedha as the condition of Svayamvara but its way of implementation appears to be rather more difficult. It mentions twenty-two Cakras in place of one Cakra. Pāṇḍavas in Jaina version enter into Svayamvara along with Pandu or Kunti while it is not so Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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