Book Title: Tulsi Prajna 1995 01
Author(s): Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

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Page 129
________________ 120 TULSI-PRAJNA accept food in the house of Khattiyas (Skt. Kshatriyas), King's messengers, and relation of the king 10 The avadansataka mentions some merchants from the middle country of northern India had gone to Deccan "Gentlemen msrchents, who was the king there (in northern India) they replied, "your Majesty some countries are under Ganas and other are under kings" Other Jain canonical work 'Antagadasão' confirm the existence of an executive council in a sangha, when it describes the ten principle Dasarahas among the Andhakas-Vrisnis, who had a sangha of their own. 18 Beyond these details, it is not possible to say to what extent exactly the gana constitution was republican in character. Besides other Jaina Canonical works give a clear concept of agarchy in a kingless state or arăjata form of state. This form of state is examplified by the state erected over the Yuvarājas. In Achārānga Sūtra, the following is said: "A Jain monk or nun on a pilgrimage, whose road lies through a country, where there is no or which is ruled by a gana form of government or by Yuvarāja a by Crown prince, or by two kings, a which is Vairajya state or which is a Viruddharaia should, if there be some other places for walking about a friendly district not choose the former road for their voyage. The Kevalin says, “This is the reason, the ignorant populace might bully or beat etc, the mendicants". (Gamanugamam dujja mane arintara se arayani, va ganavuyani, va Jeeva rajani va dorajjani, va verajjani, va virudelha rajjani, va sati ladhe viharae samtharamanelim Janavahim no vihara vattayac pavpjjejja gamanae toto samjayam eva gamanugamam dujjejj)18 Here, we have a unique feature, which for the want of better title, it may be called the negation of kingless. These names of different types of anarchial state ruled over by the gana in concent Hindu literature. Perhaps in this detail the Jainas added to ancient Indian political philosophy in the sense that it at least gives some idea of anarchial State, there by completing the picture of the form of govern ment in ancient India. The above account of the different forms of governmept under which anarchy prevailed reference is a difficult matter since the date of the Jaina sutras are itself not decided. But since the first edition of the sütras took place under the venerable Devarddhigani in 453 A. D. They may be assigned to the early Centuries A. D. as has been opined by H. Jacobi.16 We have seen above that the republican communities finally disappared from history only in the age of the Gupta dynasty (4th Century A. D). We may therefore presume that the above Jaina accounts referes to the first Century A. D.' It may Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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