Some Earlier Buddhist and Jaina Narratives

Summary

In this comparative study, Prem Suman Jain explores narrative parallels between early Buddhist literature and Jain scriptures, arguing that many stories in the Pāli Tipiṭaka and Ardhamāgadhī Āgamas derive from shared folk traditions. The article summarises several pairs of stories to highlight common motifs and moral lessons. The renunciation of the brothers Citra and Sambhūta appears both in the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra and the Buddhist Jātaka; in both versions the brothers exhibit deep mutual affection across multiple births, ultimately renouncing worldly life and attaining higher states. Another comparative case contrasts the Jain tale of Gajasukumāla with the Buddhist story of Yasa: both depict young men who, despite comfortable lives, renounce worldly pleasures after hearing spiritual teachings and endure trials to demonstrate their resolve. The author notes parallels in details—kidnapping at birth, parental love, forced marriage, and ultimate renunciation—while pointing out doctrinal differences and emphasising how each tradition adapts shared folklore to its ethical aims. A third comparison examines the story of Nami Rājarsi, in which a king’s determination to renounce is tested, paralleling the Mahājanaka Jātaka and echoing themes in the Mahābhārata. The study further analyses the story of Meghakumara, showing similarities with the Buddhist account of Nanda: both protagonists waver in their ascetic resolve but are steadied by reminders of past lives or visions that expose the futility of sensual attachment. Additional narratives about Arjuna Malākara, Dhanya Aṇāgara and Harikeśibal reveal cross‑cultural themes such as the transformation of violent or low‑caste individuals through penance and the critique of casteism. Through these examples, Prem Suman Jain demonstrates that Jain and Buddhist storytellers drew on a shared pool of popular tales, modifying characters and episodes to convey doctrinal points like compassion, non‑attachment and the equality of all beings. The article underscores the need for further comparative research to trace the genesis of these narratives and to understand the cultural exchanges between Jain and Buddhist communities in ancient India.