Jain Rup Mandan

SR No.: 001961
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

Page 72

Notes on the Jaina Pantheon are all black. Asoka is the Caitya-tree of these gods. According to Svetāmbaras, they are of ten kinds: Kinnara, Kimpuruşa, Kimpuruşottama, Kinnarottama, Hşdayangama, Ropaśäli, Anindita, Manorama, Ratipriya, Ratiśreştha.38 Black in complexion, they have especially charming faces, they wear crowns and have a peaceful appearance. Asoka tree is their flag mark.39
(6) Kimpuruṣas: They are of ten kinds, according to Tiloyapannatti: Purusa, Purusottama, Satpurusa, Mahāpuruşa, Puruşaprabha, Atipuruşa, Maru, Marudeva, Maruprabha and Yaśasvān. Their two Indras are Satpurusa and Mahāpurusa. All the Kimpurusas are golden in appearance. According to Svetāmbara tradition the Kimpuruşas are of ten classes: Puruşa, Satpuruṣa, Mahāpurusa, Puruşavssabha, Puruşottama, Atipuruṣa, Mahadeva, Marut, Maruprabha and Yaśasvān. White in complexion, these gods have very bright faces, especially beautiful hands and legs, and are adorned with various ornaments and marks of sandal paste.40
(7) Mahoragas: The Tiloyapannatti divides them into 10 classes: Bhujaga, Bhujangaśāli, Mahātanu, Atikāya, Skandhaśāli, Manohara, Ašanijava, Maheśvara, Gambhira, Priyadarśana. The Mahoragas have dark complexion. The Nāga-tree is their Caitya-tree. According to the Svetāmbaras, the 10 Mahoragas are: Bhuj ga, Bhogasali, Mahakaya, Atikāya, Skandhaśāli, Manorama, Mahāvega, Mahayakşa, Merukānta, Bhāsvanta. Blackish in appearance, they have broad and muscular shoulders and necks and are adorned with various ornaments and sandal paste marks. The Nāga is the mark on their heralds.
(8) Gandharvas: According to Tiloyapannatti, the ten Gandharvas are Hähä, Huhu, Narada, Tumbara, Vasava, Kadamba, Mahāsvara, Gitarati, Gitarasa, Vajravān. Golden in appearance, they have the Tumbaru tree as their Caitya-tree.
According to Svetambara Samgrahaņi sūtra, they are: Haha, Huhú, Tumburu, Narada, Rşivädika, Bhūtavādika, Kadamba, Mahākadamba, Raivata, Viśvāvasu, Gitarati and Gitayaśas. The Gandharvas are blackish and beautiful in appearance, have excellent physiognomy, sweet voices and are adorned with crowns and necklaces. The Tumbaru tree is their herald mark.
Of the Vyantaras, there are eight more classes given by Prajñāpana and other Sve. texts. They are: Anapanni, Panapanni, Isivăi, Bhūyavải, Kandi, Mahakandi, Kohanda and Piyanga. Nothing more is known about these except their Indras.
The Prajñāpanā describes the general appearance of all the Vānamantaras or Vyantaras. They are of an unsteady nature attached to dance and music, adorned with Vanamålas of various flowers, wearing garments of different colours, and used to taking different shapes and forms, smiling or laughing. They like love-quarrels and adorn their bodies with various ornaments such as the angada, kundala, karpapitha etc., and with marks of sandal pastes. They carry sword, mudgara (club), sakti (dart) and kunta (spear) in their hands. 41
III. The Jyotiskas
According to both the sects the Jyotiskas42 are divided into five classes: suns, moons, planets, asterisms and miscellaneous stars. It is said that every moon has 88 planets. The nakşatras are 28 in number. The planets are noteworthy in Jaina iconography. They are found in the parikara of a Jainaimage.
IV. The Vaimānika Gods
The Vaimānika gods and goddesses live in the various Kalpa and Kalpãtita heavens, noted in the outline of Jaina cosmography. The Prajñāpanā43 gives symbols on the crowns of the different classes of
gods: