16. Origin of the Brahmanas

[Full title: Informative stories; (C) Stories of Genesis; (16) Origin of the Brahmanas]

Following the episode of the duel between Bharata and Bahubali, Srenika requests Gautama to tell him the origin of the fourth Varna (caste). Gautama relates the following episode (4. 64-84). Once Bharata invited the disciples of Rsabha to accept food from his house. Rsabha refused to send them because the food particularly prepared for the monks was not acceptable to them. Then Bharata sent for the lay-votaries. The real votaries did not enter his house with the fear of causing 'himsa' to the living beings of the barley seeds sown in his courtyard whereas the followers of the wrong-faith trampled on them and went to his house. The real followers were marked on their bodies with the Kakiniratna to distinguish them from the pretenders. They got puffed up on account of being greeted by Bharata. Matisagara informed Bharata of the prophecy of the Jina that those who have been honoured by him would later on, after the deliverance of Lord Mahavira, compile the Vedas full of lies and propagate animal sacrifices. Bharata then turned out of his city all those lay-followers and got them beaten by the people. They all took refuge under Rsabha and the latter prevented Bharata from torturing them (ma-hana). Therefore, they came to be known as the Mahanas (Brahmanas).

156 A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM The Paumacariya (4. 92-122) agrees with the account of the Paumacariya The Ramapurana of Bhattaraka Somasena. (p. 7) mentions that as they were protected by Rsabha hence they called themselves as born of the mouth of Brahma (i. e. Rsabha). It does not use the word 'mahana'. Some other works also do not refer to this incident. According to the Adipurana (38. 21) those who did not walk on the germinated seeds were named as Brahmanas. At 41. 54 Rsabha is said to have told Bharata that they would distract from the right path in future, still as they are righteous at present, they should not be dishonoured. The Mahapurana (19. 4) agrees with the Adipurana The Vasudevahindi deals with this topic in detail (p.183). It states that when Rsabha did not accept the food. Bharata invited the Sravakas for dining. He further requested them to take food at his house daily and asked them to recite. Jito bhavam'. This recitation made him realise that he has been overpowered by the senses which are the real enemies. In due course others, who were not Sravakas, also began to take food at his house. He then examined them. The real ones observed the vow of not killing the living beings and it was on account of this principle-'ma hanaha jive tti tao Mahana tti vuccanti'-that they were called Mahanas. Bharata asked them about the layman's vows. The holders of five Anuvratas were marked with one line, those of additionally of three Gunavratas with two lines and those also of Siksapadas with three lines of Kakiniratna. In this way the Mahanas were originated. They used to study Aryaveda which was composed to guide their conduct. According to the Acarangacurni of Jinadasagani Varya (p.5) those who warded off the people who caused injury to anyone were called Mahanas. The Avasyakacurni of Jinadasagani Mahattara (p. 213f) mentions that they abandoned all the injurious activities, studied the scriptures and took food at the house of Bharata. They were then marked accordingly. They used to recite-jaha tubbhe jita aho bhavan vardhate bhayam ma hanahitti', i. e. 'You have won (the passions), the fear grows, do not kill'. Hence they were called Brahmanas (mahanas). The Trishashti Shalaka Purusha-caritra (I. p. 343) agrees with the Avasyakacurni and further adds that the three lines drawn with the Kakini represented right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. It says that for their study the Veda were purified by the way of including into them the praise of the Arhats and the right practices of the munis and the laymen. Gradually the Mahanas became known by the name of Brahmanas and they reached the stage of wearing the sacred thread, though originally there were three lines on their bodies.

INTERVENING STORIES 157 In the Brahmanical tradition the Rgveda (10.7.90) mentions that the Brahmanas are the mouth, the Rajanyas (Ksatriya) the arms, the Vaisyas the thighs and the Sudras the feet of Prajapati. The Mahabharata (12.296. 5-6), the Manusmrti (1.31), the Valmiki Ramayana (3.14.30), and the Vispupurana (1.6.6) speak in the same light and declare that Brahmanas originated from the mouth of Prajapati and they constitute the first and the foremost varna of the four-fold society.