Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s2: The Twelve Cakravartins

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.s2

Language: English

The Twelve Cakravartins

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Then we come to the *Cakravartins* or universal monarchs, the earliest reference to whom is made in the *Samavāyāṅga*¹³ Bharata was the first universal monarch and he was the son of Usabha by Summaṅgalā. Bharata is said to have started on his conquests with his ‘cakra’ jewel and conquered the holy places such as Magadha in the east of Jambudvīpa, Varadāma in the south, and Pabhāsa in the west, and the goddess Sindhu, the Veyaddha and Timisaguhā. Then he crossed the great river Sindhu by the ‘camma’ jewel and conquered the countries of Simhala, Babbara, Aṅga, Cilāya, Javanadīva Ārabaka, Romaka Alasanda, the mlecchas known as Pikkhura, Kālamuha and Jonaka, the mlecchas residing on the southern direction of the Veyaddha, and the region from south-west direction up to the Sindhusāgara, and finally the most beautiful land of Kaccha. Then Bharata is said to have marched through the Timisaguhā and ordered his general to open its southern gate. Then Bharata is stated to have crossed the rivers named Ummaggajalā and Nimaggajalā and defeated the Cilāyas known as Āvāda, who were dwelling in the northern half of Bharaha and were rich, arrogant, powerful, fiery, like demons on earth. Then he conquered Culla Himavanta and proceeded to Usabhakūda mountain where with his ‘lāgaṇi’ jewel Bharata wrote down his name stating that he was the first universal monarch. Then he proceeded to the north of the Veyaddha mountain where Nami and Vinami, the Vidhyādhara kings, offered him the ‘woman’ jewel, *viz.*, Subhaddā. Then Bharata conquered the river Gaṅgā and proceeded to the cave of Khaṇḍappavāya situated on the western bank of the river Gaṅgā, and ordered his general to open the northern gate of the cave. Here Bharata found out the nine treasures.

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¹³ They are Bharaha, Sagara Maghava, Sanakkumāra, Santu, Kunthu Ara, Subhoma Mahāpauma, Harisena Jaya and Bambhadatta, Sū 12, also *Āia Nir* 374f, *Thā*, 10·718

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Thus attended by the fourteen jewels Bharata returned to Vinītā where his coronation ceremony was performed with great pomp and splendour. After Bharata had seated himself on the throne, he asked his ninety eight brothers either to serve him or quit the country, whereupon they renounced the world and joined the ascetic order under Usabha. Then Bharata sent an envoy to Takkhasilā where his brother Bāhubali was ruling and asked him to obey his commands. At this a battle took place between Bharata and Bāhubali when the latter abdicated his kingdom and joined the ascetic order. In course of time, Bharata too renounced the world and attained salvation at Atthāvaya. It is said that it was from Bharata that India is said to have derived its name Bhā-rahavāssa (Bhāratavarsa).¹⁴

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¹⁴ *Jambu sū*, 3 41-71. *Āca cū* pp 182-228, *Uttarā Tī* 18, pp 232 a f, *Vasu*. pp. 186 ff; also Schubring, *op cit*, p 191. Also see *Mahābhārata* I 101.

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Like Bharata, Sagara also is said to have set out on his conquests and being attended by the fourteen jewels, became the lord of six divisions of Bharaha. He was married and his queens are said to have given birth to a large number of sons. Once with the permission of Sagara, Janhukumāra, the eldest son with his younger brothers, set out on the journey of the earth, and in course of time, reached the mountain Atthāvaya. Here they saw the shrine erected by lord Bharata and decided to dig up a moat around the mountain for the protection of the shrine. They took the 'staff' jewel and began to dig up the earth. At this time the homes of the Nāgas were split open and the Nāgas being terrified, approached their king Jalanappaha, who was enraged and hurried away to Sagara's sons. But Janhu pacified him saying that they had no intention of giving them trouble and they were digging up a moat for the protection of the shrine. The moat was ready, but it would not look proper without water. So Janhukumāra took the 'staff' jewel again and splitting the Ganges, brought her water into the moat. The water reached the homes of the Nāgas and Jalanappaha was seized with wrath again and he dispatched poison-eyed, big-hooded serpents to the sons of Sagara, who burnt them to ashes immediately.

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It is stated further that some time after, the people residing near Atthāvaya approached Sagara and reported that the Gangā had begun to flood the surrounding villages. Sagara summoned his grandson, Bhagiraha, and asked him to proceed to Atthāvaya and to draw the water of the Ganges to the eastern ocean. It was done and Bhagiraha returned and made a report to his grand-father, who renounced the world and joined the ascetic order.¹⁵

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¹⁵ *Uttarā Tī*. 18, pp 233a ff. *Vasu*, pp 300, 304 f, also cf *Mahābhā* III. 105 ff; *Rāmāyaṇa* I. 38 ff, *Culavamsa* lxxxvii 34.

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Sanakkumāra was the fourth *Cakkavatti*. He was the son of king Āsasena by his queen Sahadevī. He belonged to the Kuru family and ruled over Hatthināpura. Sanakkumāra attained salvation at the mountain Sammeya.¹⁶

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¹⁶ Sanatkumāra is also mentioned in the *Mahābhārata* (III. 188 24; I. 69.24); also see *Digha*. II, pp 210 ff

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Subhoma was the eighth *Cakkavatti* and the son of Kattaviriya, who is mentioned as the son of king Anantaviriya of Hatthināpura. Renuka's (Jamadaggi's consort) sister was the queen of Anantaviriya. Once Jamadaggi gave Renukā *bambhanacaru* and her sister *khattiyacaru* to eat, but the former exchanged it with the latter. In course of time, Renukā gave birth to Rāma and her sister to Kattaviriya. Later on, Rāma is said to have killed Anantaviriya and Kattaviriya was annoynted on the throne. He died at the hands of Rāma and after his death his consort Tārā delivered Subhoma. Then to take revenge on Rāma, who was a Brāhmana, Subhoma slew him and was satisfied after slaying Brahmanas off the earth twenty one times.¹⁷

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¹⁷ Āva cū, p. 520; Vasu., pp. 235-40. See also Mahālhā III.117 f; XII. 48; Rāmāyana, I 74-77

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Bambhadutta, the last *Cakravartī*, was the son of Bambha by Cūlanī, who had alliances with the kings such as Diha of Kosala, Kadava of Kāsī, Kanerudatta of Gayapura and Pupphacūla of Campā. After Bambha’s death, king Diha is said to have managed the affairs of the kingdom of Kampillapura. Later on, a battle ensued between Bambhadatta and king Diha in which the former was killed by the latter.¹⁸

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¹⁸ Uttarā Ṭī, 13, p. 187 a ff For Brahamadatta see also the Mahāumagga Jātaka, the Svapnavāsavadattā and the Rāmāyana (I.33.18 ff)

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The remaining *Cakravartins* were born in Hatthināpura, Kampillapura, Rājagaha, and Sāvatthī, and as usual renounced their kingdom and with the exception of a few, attained salvation at Sammeya.¹⁹

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¹⁹ See Uttarā Ṭī, 13, pp 187 ff, 236a-249, Vasu., pp 128-131, 233-240, 340-343, 346-348.

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Then there were nine *Baladevas*,²⁰ nine *Vāsudevas*²¹ and *Prativāsudevas*,²² the earliest reference to whom is made in *Āvasyaka Bhāsya*.²³ It is mentioned that the *Baladevas* and the *Vāsudevas* were always born as brothers and the latter were the rivals of the *Prativāsudevas*.²⁴ For example, Rāma and Laksamana the two brothers, were born as *Baladeva* and *Vāsudeva* respectively; the latter slew Rāvana, the *Prativāsudeva*. Similarly, Rāma Baladeva and Krsna were born as the last *Baladeva* and *Vāsudeva* respectively; the latter slew Jarāsandha, the last *Prativāsudeva*.²⁵

Linked texts (12)

Mahābhārata — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa — Vālmīki, Sanskrit
Uttarajjhayaṇa — Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit
Ṭhāṇaṃga — Sudharman, Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit
Svapnavāsavadatta — Bhāsa, Sanskrit
Dīghanikāya — Pāli
Āvassayanijjutti — Bhadrabāhu & Bhadrabāhu II, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit
Āyāraṃgacuṇṇi — Jinadāsagaṇi Mahattara, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit
Uttarādhyayanaśiṣyahitā — Śāntisūri, Sanskrit
Samavāyaṃga — Sudharman, Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit
Jambuddīvapannatti — Ardhamāgadhī Prakrit
Vasudevahiṃḍī — Saṅghadāsagaṇi Vācaka, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit