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

Page 93

YASASTILAKA AND INDIAN CULTURE
The prose hymns in Book VIII are an interesting experiment in Kavya prose, and illustrate a Jaina literary genre. They are in the form of elaborate prayers addressed to the Panca-Paramesthins, ti spiritual leaders of the Jaina church, and are in keeping with the character of Yasastilaka as a Jaina religious romance composed in Kāvya style. The place of these prose invocations in the devotional scheme outlined by Somadeva has been indicated in a subsequent chapter, and it may here be pointed out that each invocation ends with a verse in the con ustup metre. There are eight such groups, five addressed to the Parameşthins (Arhat, Siddha, Acārya, Upādhyāya and Sādhu), and three abstract ones addressed to the Jewels of Right Faith, Kight Knowledge and Right Conduct. For example,
ॐ निखिलभुवनपतिविहितनिरतिशयसपर्यापरम्परस्य .............................विरहितारिरजोरहःकुहकभावस्य समवसरणसरोऽवतीर्णजगत्त्रयपुण्डरीकखण्डमार्तण्डमण्डलस्य दुष्पाराजवञ्जवीभावजलनिमजजन्तुजातहस्तावलम्बपरमागमस्य भक्तिभरविमतविष्टपत्रयीपालमौलिमणिप्रभाभोगनभोविजृम्भमाणचरणनक्षत्रनिकुरुम्बस्य सरखतीवरप्रसादचिन्तामणेर्लक्ष्मीलतानिकेतकल्पानोकहस्य कीर्तिपोतिकाप्रवर्धनकामधेनोरवीचिपरिचयखलीकारकारणाभिधानमात्रमन्त्रप्रभावस्य सौभाग्यसौरभसंपादनपारिजातप्रसवस्तबकस्य सौरूप्योत्पत्तिमणिमकरिकाघटनविकटाकारस्य रत्नत्रयपुरःसरस्य भगवतोऽर्हत्परमेष्टिनोऽष्टतयीमिष्टिं करोमीति खाहा । अपि च
नरोरगसुराम्भोजविरोचनरुचिश्रियम् । भारोग्याय जिनाधीशं करोम्यर्चनगोचरम् ॥
"I perform the eightfold worship of the Exalted Arhat Paramesthin preceded by the Three Jewels. All hail! He is continuously worshipped with intense devotion by the lords of all the worlds......... ...............He is free from the deception of Deluding, Knowledge, and Conation-obscuring and Obstructive Karmas. He is a sun to the lotus-bed of the universe appearing in his great audience-hall as on a pool of water. He is the mighty support of the creatures submerged in the impassable waters of transmigration. His feet, like stars, shine in the firmament of the expansive radiance of the crown jewels of the lords of the three worlds, devoutly bowing
obeisance. He is as a wishing gem for obtaining the highest favours of the goddess of learning. He is a Kalpa tree, the support of the creeper of Prosperity. He is as the all-giving celestial cow in nourishing the nascent Fame (of his worshippers). The mere utterance of his name has the efficacy of a magic formula in destroying one's chance of going to hell. He is as a bunch of Pārijāta flowers radiating the fragrance of well-being. He is the imagemaker that creates the bejewelled figure of Beauty's rise. Further, I worship Lord Jina for health. His splendour doth produce
1 Ms. A explains faaet as gasto 2 See Chap. X. 3 Ms. A says ar HIE: I sit antaa T
HI TE: prara: 1