Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 13

( xii ) background of education made itself realize that the human life and body, material enjoyment of objects of Nature were transitory and belonged to the mundane world and the soul to the spiritual one.
The seventh chapter treats of the existence of various leaders of thought and their philosophical and religious systems as mentioned and described in the BhS viz. Sramanx-Nirgrantha Dharma, Ājīvikism, other schools and sects, such as, Kriyāvādins, Akriya. vādins, Ajñā navādins, Vinayavādins, Parivrājakas, Vānaprasthas, Carakas, other Tirthikas, the order of Lord Párávanātha, that of Jamālī, the first schism in the Nirgrantha order led by him, deities, supernatural powers and elements, etc. It depicts a picture of ancient India of the period of this canonical work, when the habitual religion of the people was in its degrees and forms in clash and adjustment with the higher religions preached by various schools of thought, while the common people followed their traditional faiths and customs.
The eighth chapter deals with the historical data found in this work and its bearing upon the history of the time the life of Lord Mahāvīra, his contemporary kings, clans, tribes and races. It throws fresh light upon the parentage of the Master by revealing that he was the son of Devānandā, the Brāhmaṇī of Brāhmanakundagrāma. Lord Muhāvīra appears to have erected a great edifice of Sramaņa Nirgrantha Dharma on a solid metaphysical foundation by systematizing the fundamental principles of this religion laid down by his predecessors.
The ninth chapter makes a study of cosmology, cosmography and historical geography as found and described in the BhS with the corroborative evidences of the Buddhist and Brāhmaṇical sources of information.
The tenth chapter throws an important light upon the contribution of this canonical work to the evolution of Jaina philosophical thought by dealing with Jaina Metaphysics, Psychology, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic and the doctrine of Karma and liberation as revealed herein. It gives an exposition of the