Arhat Parshva and Dharnendra Nexus

SR No.: 002108
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M A Dhaky
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 204
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Book_English, Articles, History, Art, E000, & E001
File Size: 8 MB

Page 128

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Arhat Pārśva and Dharanendra Nexus
different upasargas continuously for seven days. It further mentions that, in course of the onslaught, Sambara lifted and threw hillocks at Pārsva.12 Both works also refer to the manifestation of Dharanendra along with his consort (the name Padmāvati not mentioned) for protecting Pārśva from the upasargas of Sambara. Dharanendra covered Pārsva with his hoods forming the canopy over his head while his consort raised a vajramaya chatraadamantine-parasol-over the snake-canopy.
The detailed account of the different upasargas of Sambara to Pārsva is found perhaps for the first time in the Pāsanābacariü (A.D. 1077) of the Digambara author Padmakīrtti which gives a telling description of how Sambara himself took different forms and used fatal weapons such as thunderbolt, arrow, spear, mudgara, axe, parasol etc. to shake Pārśva from his tapas. He also made abortive attempts through ferocious animals namely, śārdūla (tiger), lion, monkey, dog, bear, snake, boar, buffalo, elephant, ox, etc. to shake up Pārsva from his meditation. He also caused upasargas by the horrendous goblins such as the vaitāla-monster, piśāca-demon, dākini-ogress and by grahas or obscuring planetary divinities, also snakes, eagles, and kumbhända-monster with their terrifying cries to frighten Pārsva. An upasarga by the bewitching apsarases was also conjured up to lure away Pārsva from his trance. After failing in his efforts to shake Pārsva, Sambara next caused non-stop rains. When the rain water crossed the shoulder of Pārsva, Dharanendra came to his rescue along with the nāga-ladies. The king of snakes next raised his seven hoods over the head of Pārśva for providing full cover and rested Jina's feet in the folds acting as lap. As usual, Padmavati raised a parasol over the snake-hoods of Dharanendra. Sambara, finding his efforts going futile, was incensed and attacked even någarāja Dharanendra with the weapons such as thunderbolt, vajra-danda and mountain boulders, in which too he failed. 13 Filled, then, with remorse, Sambara bowed to Pārsva asking for forgiveness. The details of the various upasargas in the figures of Pārsva from Ellorā almost fully correspond with the details in the Pāsanābacariü. Since the figures of Ellorā in point of time are earlier than the text, it may be presumed that an identical but earlier tradition was before the artists at Ellorā, the textual source of which is now lost. Some general as well as the individual features of the images of Pārsvanātha from Ellorā showing elaborate rendering of the upasarga may now be looked into. In such scenes, Sambara has been shown in different forms, either riding on buffalo or lion or hovering in air and as throwing spear, dagger, trident, mace, thunderbolt, snake, and boulders at Pārsvanātha. In all instances, the target of the fierce attack of the devil Sambara, in his different manifestations carved on two sides, is Pārsva who stands unshaken by the onslaughts