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Notes on the Jaina Pantheon (2) CLASSIFICATION OF JAINA DEITIES
The Sthānanga27 and other Jaina canons classify gods into four main groups, namely, the Bhavanavāsis, the Vyantaras or Våņamantaras, the Jyotiskas and the Vimā navāsis. These are again sub-divided into several groups with Indra, Lokapālas, Queens of these and so on.
The classification is acknowledged by both the sects and is a very old tradition, but they are after all deities of a secondary nature in the Jaina Pantheon.
1. The Bhavanarasi Gods
The abodes of Bhavanapatis, situated in the Ratnaprabhā earth, are like two rows, in the north and south, of shops on a highway. The ten classes of Bhavanapatis are the same according to both the sects. Each group has its own recognising mark, usually shown in front of their crowns. The following tables give the iconography of ten classes of Bhavanavāsis, according to both sects (TP – Tiloyapannatti, Digambara and Sve. = Jainis canons of Svetāmbara tradition).28
Bhavanavāsīs - Digambara
Class
Caitya-Vrkşas
Mark on Crown
Complexion
1. Asura-kumaras 2. Nāga-kumaras 3. Suparna-kumāras 4. Dvipa-kumaras 5. Udadhi-kumāras 6. Stanita-kumaras 7. Vidyut-kumaras 8. Dik-kumāras 9. Agni-kumāras 10. Vayu-kumāras
Asvattha Saptaparna Salmali Jambu Vetasa Kadamba Priyangu
Cüda mani Snake Eagle Elephant Crocodile Svastika Vajra Lion Kalasa Horse
Black Black Blackish Blackish Black Black Lightning-like Light-black Flame-like Blue-lotus
Sirisa
Palasa Raja-druma
Bhavanavāsis-Svetambara29
Class
Mark on Crown
Complexion
Garments
1. Asura-kumāras 2. Näga-kumāras 3. Suparna-kumāras 4. Dvipa-kumāras 5. Udadhi-kumaras 6. Stanita-kumaras 7. Vidyut-kumāras 8. Dik-kumaras 9. Agni-kumaras 10. Väyu-kumāras
Cudamani Snake Eagle Lion Horse Vardhamanaka Vajra Elephant Water-pot Makara
Black White Golden Golden White Golden Golden Golden Golden Blackish
Red Bluish White Blue Blue White Blue Blue Blue Reddish yellow
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| SR No. | 001961 |
| Book Title | Jain Rup Mandan |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Umakant P Shah |
| Publisher | Abhinav Publications |
| Publication Year | 1987 |
| Total Pages | 466 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English & Art |
| File Size | 27 MB |