Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 451

426
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. VII
pictures as used in the text in connection with the earning of livelihood of Mankha Mańkhali, and that of his son, Gośāla by this vocation of Mankhatva.
"Cittaphalagahatthagae
mankhattanenaṁ.
bhāvemāņe....... gāmāṇugāmaṁ... ...'1
Sri Abhayadeva Sūri explains that the word 'Mañkha' denotes a class of beggars (or mendicants) that tries to extract alms from the people by exhibiting pictures of malignant' deities (citraphala kavyagrakaro bhiksukaviśéşab), while Hemacandra in his commentary on the Abhidhāna Cintāmaṇ equates it with the word 'Magadha' (a bard). There is also reference to Mankhas in the Rajatarangini of Kalhana.'
The tradition of earning livelihood by displaying religious pictures is also recorded in the Harsacarita of Banabhaṭṭa. There it is stated that King Harsa, while entering his capital-city after returning from his hunting operation saw a Yamapaṭṭika (one who lives by Yamapaṭṭa, i.e. by displaying a piece of cloth on which Yama, the god of death with his attendants and punishments of hell are represented), surrounded by greatly excited and curious boys on the traffic road, relating with a shaft of an arrow the accout of the other world as depicted on a spread out cloth (or canvas) decorated with the painting of Yama seated on a terrible buffalo, which was fixed on a raised The king also listened to the verse sung by that very Yamapaṭṭika thus: "Thousands of mothers and fathers and hundreds of sons and wives passed away (i.e. dead) in ages, whose are they or whose are you.'
staff held in his left hand.
995
appāņaṁ
1 BhS, 15, 1, 540-41.
2 Ib. (comm), 15, 1, 540. Abhidhana-cintamani comm. to V 795, 1-365 (Böht Linck
& Rien edn).
4 Rajatarangini-viii. 969, 995, 3354. See also V. Anatagadadasão L. Barnett.
p. 2, 43 and Ardha-Magadhi
Dictionary.
5 Harśacarita, Ucchväsa 5, p. 153.