Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 182

Sec. 1] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÚTRA 152
In other texts, such as the Mahāpurānal and Avaśyata Cürņiit is said that king Bharata established the Brāhmanical order out of the most virtuous people and honoured them with the mark of Kākinž, sacred thread and entertained them with food and other rich presents.
The Uttaradhyayana Tikā also provides the information that the Brāhmaṇas were honoured by the Nandas of Pāfaliputra: with gifts of wealth and various costly articles, while one hundred and eight 'dināras' were given by the king to Vararuci every day for reciting one hundred and eight verses in his eulogy."
They were also entertained and honoured with food and other presents on the occasion of birth, death ceremony and other festivals.
It has already been discussed in connection with the judicial and revenue administrations in the third chapter that they were exempted from capital punishment and taxation respectively and were rewarded for finding treasure trove,
The Nišitha Cūrni? assigns the highest position to the Brāhmanas, when it states that they who were once heavenly gods were created by the Prajāpati on earth as living gods. This work echoes the same sentiment of the Bhs that they should be offered alms and gifts by the householders for attaining spiritual merit,
As in the Bhs, the frequent occurrences together of the terms Samana' and 'Māhana' in several Jaina texts, clearly determine their equal status and identical relation in the social life.
Moreover, it is known from the Uvāsagadasão that the title Mahana or. Mahāmāhana' was attributed to Lord Mahāvīra.
1 Mahāpurāņa, Parva, 18, LL-20, 21, 22. ? Avasyaka l'urni, p. 213 f. 3 Uttaradhyayna Tikā, 3, p. 57. * 16, 2, 27 å.6 16, 13, p. 194a.. Nisitha Cūrni, 20, p. 1281. 7 Niśitha Cūrni, 12, p. 865. 8 Cf. dcāranga Cūrni-p. 93. Cf. Samyutta, Samana Brahmana
Sutta Il 129 f., 236 f;IV p. 234 f, V, p. 9 Uvāsa gadasão, 7.