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CHATER 1
INTRODUCTION: THE CHARACTER OF JAIN MYTHOLOGY
1. RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY
Religion and mythology are always intimately connected with each other. Works on mythology clothe with flesh and blood, the bony framework of spiritual truths and ethical code as set forth in sacred literature. Without such a body of flesh and bone, the mere life-force of the sacred texts cannot function with effect. It is of course, equally true that without such life-force the mere mass of flesh and bone will decay. The Purānas popularize the truths taught in the sacred books by presenting them in relation to individual men and women and to the events of their lives. They explain, illustrate and inculcate the moral principles stated in them,
2. THE DEFINITION OF MAHA-PURANA
Jinasena, the author of the Adi-Purāna, says : "I shall describe the narrative of 63 ancient persons, viz., the (24) Tirthakaras, the (12) Cakravartins, (9) Baladevas, (9) Ardha-Cakravartins (i, e, Vasudevas) and their enemies (i, e., Prativāsudevas). The word Purāna meant 'old or ancient narrative'. It is called 'great' because it relates to the great (personages), or because it is narrated by the great (Tirthakaras, Gañadharas or Ācāryas) or because it teaches (the way to supreme bliss. Other learned men say that it is called Purāņa because it originates with an old poet and it is called great because of its intrinsic greatness. The great rșis called it a Mahapurāna as it relates to great men and teaches (the way to) supreme bliss". And he adds that "the Mahā -Purāņa is regarded "Ārsa' because it was composed by rşis,
Sukta' as it expounds truth and 'Dharma-śāstra' as it declares Dharma. It is also looked upon as Itihasa, Itivștta, or Aitihya or Amnaya as it contains many stories about 'Iti-ha-āsa' (- 'so it has been' i. e., 'traditional history'). Thus according to Jinasena, Purāņa and Itihāsa are synonymous terms. A Țippaņa-kāra of Puspadanta's
1 तीर्थेशामपि चकेशां हलिनामर्धचक्रिणाम् । त्रिषष्टिलक्षणं वक्ष्ये पुराणं तद्विषामपि ॥ पुरातनं पुराणं स्यात् तन्महन्महदाश्रयात् । महद्भिरुपदिष्टत्वात् महाश्रेयोऽनुशासनात् ॥ कविं पुराणमाश्रित्य प्रसृतत्वात् पुराणता । महत्त्वं स्वमहिम्नव तस्येत्यन्यनिरुच्यते ॥ महापुरुषसम्बन्धि महाभ्युदयशासनम् । महापुराणमाम्नातमत एतन्महर्षिभिः ।।
- Jinasena. M. P. I. 20-23 2 ऋषिप्रणीतमार्ष स्यात् सूक्तं सूनृतशासनात् । धर्मानुशासनाच्चेदं धर्मशास्त्रमिति स्मृतम् । इतिहास इतीष्टं तद् इति हासीदिति श्रुतेः । इतिवृत्तमथैतिह्वमाम्नायञ्चामनन्ति तत् ॥
- Jinasena. M. P. I. 24-25
