Yasastilaka and Indian Culture

SR No.: 001609
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur
Publication Year: 1968
Total Pages: 566
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Story, Literature, & Culture
File Size: 16 MB

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YASASTILAKA AND INDIAN CULTURE
the sacred lore; and the Sadhu or the devotee bent on salvation and engaged in rigorous austerities in the face of insuperable obstacles. It may be added that the doctrine of the Parameşthins is a cardinal feature of Jainism, which offers to some extent to be a cult of the superman in the sphere of religion, and reserves its highest honours for the best of men who uphold religion and society according to the tenets of the Jaina faith.
The Parameşthins as well as the Three Jelwes are invoked in our work in elaborate, long-winding prose salutations, each followed by a supple. mentary verse, some of which will be found reproduced in Chapter IV. Somadeva refers in this connection to the eightfold worship of the Parameşthins and the Three Jewels.
The prose invocations are followed by a considerable number of verses in praise of Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct, the Arhat, the Siddha, the Acărya, and Săntinātha, one of the the Jinas or Tirthamkaras. Most of these eulogies are couched in an elevated style and will be found in the chapter on Somadeva's verse.
b) The worshipper may also use an image of the Arhat, and such worship consists of six items, viz. bathing and adoration of the idol, hymns, silent prayer (japa), meditation, and the adoration of the presiding goddess of the scriptures (Śrutadevatā). The first two items, ceremonial bathing and adoration of the idol, are closely interconnected, and illustrated by Somadeva with a series of highflown verses in praise of Jina, designed to accompany each successive stage of the ritual. The various stages of the worship proper are prastāvanā (prelude ), purākarma (preliminary arrangements), sthāpanā (placing the idol on the altar), saṁnidhāpana installation of the idol), pūjā (obeisance and offerings ), and pūjāphala (declaration of the results accruing from the worship of Jina). The idol is bathed with fragrant water, clarified butter, and the juice of vines, dates, sugarcanes, old myrobalans, areca-nuts, and Piyala fruits as well as coconut-milk, and anointed with various pastes and compounds made from sandal, aloe wood, cardamoms, cloves and Kamkola berries. Four pitchers filled with water and decorated with flowers and leaves are kept ready for the bathing ceremony. The sacred Nandyävarta and Svastika emblems,
1 For example, 'maatsecarafgaise APT title rer. The eightfold worship is defi
ned as fiollows in Hemacandra's Yogaśāstra 3. 120: STE I T rafa fari f ra धूपदीपैः सानाय्यैः प्राज्यभेदैश्चरुभिरुपहृतैः पाकपूतैः फलैश्च । अम्भ-संपूर्णपात्रैरिति हि जिनपतेरर्चनामष्टभेदां कुर्वाणा
वेश्मभाजः परमपदसुखस्तोममारालभन्ते ॥ 2 arretratarea
area : aquifa forare: 11 P. 383. 3 एलालवङ्गकङ्कोलमलयागरुमिश्रितैः। पिष्टैः कल्कैः कषायैश्च जिनदेहमुपास्महे ।। 4 पाथःपूर्णान् कुम्भान् कोणेषु सुपलवप्रसूना न् । दुग्धाब्धीनिव विदधे प्रवालमुक्तोल्बणांश्चतुरः ।।