Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 134

Sec. VIIA) STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATÍ SÚTRÀ
109 Robbery
Of the various types of crime enumerated in the Jaina texts robbery was regarded as a systematic art (vijjā) practised in ancient India.
In some Jaina texts references are made to a number of notorious robbers expert in the art of fighting, viz. Vijaya' of Salādavā, his body-guard, Cilāya, Mandiyas of Bennāyada, Abhaggasena' of Purimatāla, etc., who resided in their respective wellprotected robber-infested areas in the jungles. They committed different types of crime and created terror in the hearts of the people by their nefarious activities. But they were ultimately rounded up and arrested by the forces of their respective governments and executed by the order of their kings after inflicting various kinds of tortures on them.
The Uttarādhyayana Sūtram refers to different classes of
1 Science of lacerny (theft) is attributed to Skanda, Kanaka
sakti, Bhāskarānandi, Yogācārya and others, and thieves also used to be addressed as Skanda putras. Refer to Grecian Mercury and St. Nicholas of England, the patrongod of thieves ; See. 1. H, Q., 1929, pp. 312 ff; Kathasaritsägara (Vol. II, pp. 183-4), discussion Stealing'. Müladeva appears as the chief-thief in Hindu fiction who is identified by Bloomfield with Karņisuta, Ganiputraka or Ganikāputra or Gaạikāsuta. Steyaśāstrapravartaka or Steyasūtrapravartaka' a famous handbook of thieving is ascribed to him. He is also referred to in the com, on Digha (1. 89); also see
Dhurtākhyāna of Dr. A. N. Upādhye, A critical study, p. 23 and note. Refer to 'Life in Ancient India by Dr. J. C. Jain,
p. 66, 14 f. 2 Vivāga Suya, 3, p. 20; Nayadham makahão, 18, p. 208 f. 8 Sisyahită Commentary on Uttarādhyayana 4, p. 94a f.;
also Cf. Bhuyangama Cora (Uttarā. Ti. 4, pp. 87 ff); Rauhi. ņeya Cora (Vya. Bha, 2 304); also Yogaśās'ra, Com. pp. 116 ff by Hemacandra., J. A. O. S. Vol. 44, 1-10, H M,
Johnson ; also Cf. Yājñavalkya Smrti, 11, 23, 273. 4 Viväga Suya, 3, pp. 24 f.
Refer to Life in Ancient India by Dr. J. C. Jain, pp. 67-68;
26, 29, 31 ff. for details. 6 Uttarādhyayana Sutra, 9, 28; see also Panha Țikā, 3, p. 58.,
for seven types of robbers and eighteen ways of encouraging robbery, Cf. Law, India described, pp. 172 f. for the types of Coras in the Buddhist works. Refer to Life in Ancient Indiaby Dr. J. C. Jain.