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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
77
first in oral traditions and, then later, in the written ones. The Jaina Puranas originated in such a process and then progressively grew with objectives of generating religious awakening and enlightenment and of guiding spiritual welfare for the followers of the creed. To heighten effect and create awe and reverence etc. myths and cosmographic settings etc, were also texturised as the inseparable and even rather bulky parts of these Puranas.
Now, for practical purposes, in respect of the Adipurana or Adisvaracarita, if we leave aside, for the time being, the descriptive details about his hoary antiquity, previous births, the mother's dreams, the Pañcakalyānas, the enormous physical height, the fabulous life-span etc., given at the imposing cosmographic background, as mythology, but accepting at the same time, their religio-spiritual significance meant by the Jaina Seers and authors for the laity at large, the traditional matter preserved in this Purana/Carita could no doubt be the historical core of his biography.
But, as modern times would expect, such core has to be adequately corroborated by archaeological, inscriptional, non-Jaina literary evidences etc. But unfortunately serious, continued and co-ordinated efforts have not been put by us towards this directopm. The interpretation of some of the Indus Valley Seals and Images has to be re-attempted thoroughly, taking note of the clues from the later conflicting views on them held by some of the Vedic and other scholars. Let me remind that Prof.S.A.Dange has recently tried (Presidential Address, Vedic Section, A.I.O.C., Shantiniketan, 1982) to critically analyse some such details given by some scholars, and to sound a note of appeal to the Vedic scholars themselves in general, not to take them (these details) lightly. One would find that such and other details of such studies have almost reached a stage now, when the same figure on the same seal look like Śiva, Rsabha and Brahma too! Then, the relationship of the view of Pre-Vedic and Non-Aryan Origin of Jainism, (as connected with Rsabhadeva of the Indus valley culture days) with the postulation of the ancient Śramanic culture/religion of North-East India
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