2017 年 66 巻 1 号 p. 475-470
Neminātha, the 22nd Tīrthaṃkara, has been mentioned as a theme of Jain literature since the early Jain canons. The story originally follows Nemi who renounces the world after observing suffering animals to be offered for his marriage ceremony.
Jain authors made some additions to the story historically. We can classify the additions in three stages; first, focusing on the conviction of Rathanemi, who is a brother of Nemi, by Rājal, a bride-to-be with Nemi; second, merging with the story of Kṛṣṇa; lastly, showing the sorrow of Rājal in the style of Bārahmāsā.
This paper focuses on the Uttarajjhāyā, Harivaṃśapurāṇa, and Nemināthacatuṣpadikā as models of the three stages. We attempt to clarify the characteristics of each stage through a change of Rājal’s role in each work.