Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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Sec. IV)
STUDIBS IN THE BHAGAWATI SOTRA
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legendary personalities. The first reference to a prince, Iksvāku by name is found in a passage of the Rg-Veda. Both the Vedic and Purāņica literatures furnish a long list of kings belonging to the Aiksvāka dynasty from Iksvāku himself down to king Prasenjit of Košala, the contemporary ruler of king SeņiyaBimbisāra. The evidences of the Vedic and Purānic works are also supported by the Rāmāyaṇa' in which the royal family of Košala is said to have discended from a king named Ikşvāku, while in the Buddhist works the branches of this family are found ruling at Kusinārā and at Benaras respectively. The epigraphic records also reveal that a Iksvāku dynasty reigned in the south in the 2nd and 3rd century A. D.
Thus it appears that this famous Ksatriya clan spread over different parts of India with the process of Aryanization of the country upto the far south. The Iksvākus of the Bhs were one of its branches as being associated with Vaiśālī. Jñātrika (Nāyā)
The Jhātrikas became celebrated by the birth of Lord Mahāvīra in the family of its chief Siddhārtha, in Ksatriyakundagrāma. It was the Master who raised the status of this clan to a high pedestal of honour and glory by bringing them into prominence as the last Tirthankara.
According to the Uvāsagadasãos, the Jhātrikas settled over Kundagrāma, Kollāga aud Vānijyagrāma, the three quarters of Vaiśālī which are identified with the present villages Vāsukunda, Kolhuă, and Baniyāgaon respectively of Basārh (Vaiśālā) in the Muzaffarpur district of North Bihar. The association of the Jaātrikas with Vaikāli is well supported by the epithet Vesālie', attributed to Lord Mahāvīra, a scion of this clan.
1 Rg-Veda, X. 60. : Atharva-Deda XIV, 39-9; Gopatha Brahmana 1-2-10 et, seg. 8 Vayupurāna 1. 47. 11.
4 Rāmāyana 1. 47. 11. $ Kusa Jataka No. 531; Mahāvastu 111. 8. & Nagar junikunda Inscription, En. Indica XX p. 16, 19 f. ? Kalpa Sutra (Jaina Sūtra II pt. II S. B, E. Vol. XIV p. 416. 8 V vasagadasão II. p. 4 f. 4. 9 Bhs 2, 1, 90; 12, 2, 441.
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