Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

SR No.: 006540
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publication Year: 1944
Total Pages: 635
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Book_English & Culture
File Size: 18 MB

Page 184

AIN MANTRAVADA AND CAITYAVASIS : VIDYADHARAS
175
and caused it to be dropped on the goat tied to the sacrificial post for being sacrificed and it flew up in the sky and, inspired by Sri Ambikā, extolled in human speech the doctrine of Ahimsā and directed the Brahmanas there to approach Sri Priyagranthisūri for learning the true Dharma. They thereupon approched Priyagranthisūri and thereafter strictly observed the doctrine of Ahiņsā.
Chronologically we should mention here Arya Rohaņa, Kālakācā. rya, Revatimitra Vidyācakravarti Arya Khapuțācārya, and Upādhyāya Mahendra, then Sriguptācārya, Vajraswāmi, Padaliptasūri, Nāgārjuna and others but as details from their lives are given further on we need not say anything about them here. We would only mention Arya Nandila (circa 600 Vira era) here. He composed the famous Māntrika hymn to Sri Vairotyā one of the queens of Dharaṇendra. This hymn is preserved and printed. The details about the life of Arya Nandila the readers can learn from Prabhāvakacaritra.
VIDYADHARAS We have described in details in the next section the origin of Vidyādharas through the two rrothers Nami and Vinami, in the times of Sri Rşabhadeva, the first Tirthankara, who were gifted with 48000 Vidyās of Gandharvas and Pannagas by Dharaṇendra the Indra of the serpent-deities (See p. 161-162 Avasyakacūrņi) and who used to worship Sri Rşabhadeva as also the presiding deities of the several Vidyās. * As these are more or less legendary persons we describe below
* That daily worship of Vidyadevis was current in the ancient times amongst Jains is evidenced by such mention thereof in Vasudeva-Hiņdi (P. 366) as the following:
"itfgut famiga T 8127A II" i.e. "I always worship Vidyadevi Rohiņi." The importance of this reference would be immediately recognised when it is remembered that it occurs in a work written by Sri Sanghadásagani who holds an unique position amongst Jains as a Bhāsyakära of Siddhånta. The above is not a solitary instance. On a careful perusal of the said work, several instances of worship of Vidyādevis and other deities for accomplishment in Vidyās would be found. See p. 318 ibid for worship of the idol of Dharaṇendra. A reference to worship of the idol of Hariñegamesi is found in Antagadadasānga, III, 8, Sutra 6; "adui et gagragfafá aftur 379791 ZIFAEITAI fota fara få utfa."