Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 452

Sec. VÍ] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA 427
The same tradition of earning livelihood by exhibiting the patas (a piece of cloth) depicted with religious pictures and other incidents of social life, such as Yamapata, Gājārpaţa, etc., has continued up to the present day in Bengal and in other parts of India. Charpentier is of opinion on the evidence of a Sutra of Pānini that Mankhali was a mendicant, carrying a picture board having the painting of a representation of the god Śiva.?
It appears from all these facts that the Ājivika-Mańkbas did not like to become an economic burden on the society, but they earned their livelihood by means of this profession of exhibiting pictures.
Life of Gošāla Mankhaliputra
It is related in the 15th Sataku of the Bhs that one day some time Maókba Mankhalı', together with his pregnant wife, Bhadrā took shelter in the cowshed of a Brālmana named Gobahula at Saravana after their journey without obtain. ing any dwelling residence anywhere in that quarter of the town. It was here Bhadrā gave birth to a very tender and beautiful male child. The Mankhali couple christened their new-born son as Gośāla on the ground that he was born in the cowshed. Pāṇini also explains, "Gośāla as one born in a cowshed.”
In some respects this incident of the birth of Gośāla shows a happy coincidence with that of Jesus Christ who is also said to have been born in a cowshed, as it is recorded in Saint Luke's Gospel.
With the attainment of the stage of maturity and youth Gośāla himself made each painting and earned his livelihood by carrying on the profession of Mankhatva (exhibition of pictures) like his father, Mankha Mankhali.
I J. R. A. S., 1913, pp. 671-2. Vide 'History & Doctrine of
Ājīvikas', p. 36. ? BAS, 15, 1, 540. 3 Panini Sutra, IV, 3. 35. Vide 'India as known to Päņini', by
Dr. V. S. Agrawala, p. 383.