Treasury of Jain Tales

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre

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ascetic ideal is shown to be superior to the Brāhmana ideal. This dialogue is met with also in the Mahabhārata, the Puranas and Jātaka (no.509). The story of Citta and Sambhūta (Chapter 13) belongs to the great cycle of legends about King Brahmadatta and is a common property of the Vedic Hindus, the Buddhists and the Jains. In chapter 22 we have the legend of Rathanemi (and Princess Rājimati and Aristanemi). It is connected with the Krsna legend and it effectively portrays the following events: the bridegroom's great compassion towards many animals which were to be slaughtered for his marriage-feast; his resolve to take the vow of an ascetic, Räjimati, the bride on learning of it resolves to become a nun. Once drenched in rain she takes refuge in a cave, undresses herself in order to dry her garments; Rathanemi, Aristanemi's elder brother had already taken refuge in the same cave. On seeing her naked beauty he is seized by passion and makes advances to her; she reproves him and enlightens him by her forceful speech. Rathanemi is thus steadied in dharma.
(ii) Commentaries on Canonical Works
Various learned ācāryas (teachers) have written commentaries on agama texts. These commentaries are varied in their character. They are variously named: Nijjuttis (niryuktis), cūrņis, laghubhasya, mahābhāsya, vrttis, ti kās, avacūrnis, pañjikā, di pikā, tippana (=tippana, tippanaka, tippaņi, tippani), vişamapadaparyäya, etc. Some of these names need to be explained: The niryuktis are 'concise metrical explanations of certain parts of the canon’; they "consist of very concise explanations in äryä verses and Jain Māhārāstri. They are probably memorial verses which served as an aid to the memory of the teachers in their oral interpretation of the sacred texts. At a later date, these niryuktis were extended to form exhaustive commentaries in Prakrit (bhásyas and cūrnis). These in their turn