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Sürya of stone, contains allusions to disfigured limbs and
features, wound-like ulcers, and a hoarse gurgling voice, which
are plain references to leprosy.¹ And these symptoms Sūrya is
here said to cure. Bühler's theory as to the origin of the
miraculous tale of Bana's recovery from his self-mutilation is
thus strengthened by the application of a similar line of reasoning
in the case of Mayura's cure, although it may be argued that the
story of Mayūra's wonderful resuscitation was already common
property by the time of the Jaina fabricator. At any rate the
latter was doubtless familiar with the Süryaśataka, so that a
reference to its sixth stanza would be quite apropos for the pur-
pose of further embellishment.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The legend of Sãmba. It must be borne in mind that the
idea of effecting a cure of leprosy by the aid of the Sun was not
a new one in the Orient. According to Herodotus, the ancient
Persians believed that affliction with leprosy was the consequence
of sinning against the Sun. In the first book of his history it is
recorded³ :-
ὃς ἂν δὲ τῶν ἀστῶν λέπρην ἢ λεύκην ἔχῃ, ἐς πόλιν οὗτος οὐ κατέρχεται οὐδὲ συμμίσ-
γεται τοῖσι ἄλλοισι Πέρσῃσι· φασὶ δέ μιν ἐς τὸν ἥλιον ἁμαρτόντα τι ταῦτα ἔχειν
'Whatsoever one of the citizens has leprosy or the white [leprosy] does
not come into the city, nor does he mingle with the other Persians. And
they say that he contracts these [diseases] because of having committed
some sin against the Sun.'
From this it may be argued that the Persians believed the Sun
could cure leprosy, for the same god who brought contagious
diseases upon men must surely have been able to take them
away again.
1 On Indian medical theories in general concerning leprosy, see Jolly,
Medicin, in Grundriss der Indo-Arischen Philologie, p. 96-99, Strass-
burg, 1901.
It has been pointed out above (p. 17 and 18) that the Jaina tale about
Mayura and Bāṇa seems to have been first told in the Prabhavakacaritra
(1250 A.D.), but that a reference to Mayura's recovery from leprosy-the
reference is so regarded, at least, by the commentators-occurs in the
Kavyaprakasa (1050-1100 A.D.).
Herodotus, 1. 138; cf. the edition of H. R. Dietsch, revised by H. Kal-
lenberg, vol. 1, Leipzig, 1899.
Sürya of stone, contains allusions to disfigured limbs and
features, wound-like ulcers, and a hoarse gurgling voice, which
are plain references to leprosy.¹ And these symptoms Sūrya is
here said to cure. Bühler's theory as to the origin of the
miraculous tale of Bana's recovery from his self-mutilation is
thus strengthened by the application of a similar line of reasoning
in the case of Mayura's cure, although it may be argued that the
story of Mayūra's wonderful resuscitation was already common
property by the time of the Jaina fabricator. At any rate the
latter was doubtless familiar with the Süryaśataka, so that a
reference to its sixth stanza would be quite apropos for the pur-
pose of further embellishment.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The legend of Sãmba. It must be borne in mind that the
idea of effecting a cure of leprosy by the aid of the Sun was not
a new one in the Orient. According to Herodotus, the ancient
Persians believed that affliction with leprosy was the consequence
of sinning against the Sun. In the first book of his history it is
recorded³ :-
ὃς ἂν δὲ τῶν ἀστῶν λέπρην ἢ λεύκην ἔχῃ, ἐς πόλιν οὗτος οὐ κατέρχεται οὐδὲ συμμίσ-
γεται τοῖσι ἄλλοισι Πέρσῃσι· φασὶ δέ μιν ἐς τὸν ἥλιον ἁμαρτόντα τι ταῦτα ἔχειν
'Whatsoever one of the citizens has leprosy or the white [leprosy] does
not come into the city, nor does he mingle with the other Persians. And
they say that he contracts these [diseases] because of having committed
some sin against the Sun.'
From this it may be argued that the Persians believed the Sun
could cure leprosy, for the same god who brought contagious
diseases upon men must surely have been able to take them
away again.
1 On Indian medical theories in general concerning leprosy, see Jolly,
Medicin, in Grundriss der Indo-Arischen Philologie, p. 96-99, Strass-
burg, 1901.
It has been pointed out above (p. 17 and 18) that the Jaina tale about
Mayura and Bāṇa seems to have been first told in the Prabhavakacaritra
(1250 A.D.), but that a reference to Mayura's recovery from leprosy-the
reference is so regarded, at least, by the commentators-occurs in the
Kavyaprakasa (1050-1100 A.D.).
Herodotus, 1. 138; cf. the edition of H. R. Dietsch, revised by H. Kal-
lenberg, vol. 1, Leipzig, 1899.