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 185

176
INTRODUCTION
Vidyādharas who were contemporaneous with Sri Mahāvīra. VIDYĂDHARA PEDHĂLAKA AND VIDYACAKRAVARTI MAHEŚVARA
At pp. 685 ff. of Sri Haribhadrasūris commentary on Avasvakasūtra are described the doings of Vidyāsiddha Pedhālaka who was a non-Jain ascetic contemporaneous with Sri Mahavira and his son Satyaki who accomplished the Sādhanā of Mahārohiņi killed Pedhālaka and became known as Rudra and overpowered Kālasamdīpaka who created three Puras or bodies in the fight. He thus became Vidyācakravarti and was given the name 'Mahesvara'. He had two pupils Nandiśvara and Nandi who were also similarly accomplished. The important feature of this annecdote is the belief amongst Jains in the extraordinary powers acquired by Sadhanā of Vidyās such as Mahärohini and others even in such early times. We need not add that Rohini is the first in the group of sixteen Vidyādevis + in the Jain Pantheon.
In the next section we shall show by references from Sūyagadañgasūtra, Paumacarīyam and Vasudeva-Hindi that Vidyās used to be employed by Vidyādharas from the mist ancient times, and how Sri Pārsvanātha's worship became extremely popular.
RATNAPRABHASORI In the line of Sri Pārsvanātha in 52 Vīra era flourished Achārya Sri Ratnaprabhasūri. He was a pupil of Svayambhavasūri and a grandpupil of Sri Kesikumāra Sramana. It is related about him that he was a Vidyadhara accomplished in Vidyās especially Akasagāmini or the flying lore and Bahurūpiņior the lore enabling one to assume as many bodies as one liked and bore before his initiation the name Ratnacūda. He revived the son of a minister bit by a serpent and given up as dead by his magical power and converted lacs of people headed by the said minister to Jainism and formed them into the Ośwāla caste which exists to
+ "Of all the conceptions found in the Jains Iconography, none is so original as the conception of the Vidyādevis or the Goddesses of learning". Page. 163, The Jain Iconography by Prof. B. C. Bhattacharya