Comparative Study of Mantrashastra

SR No.: 006575
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publication Year: 1944
Total Pages: 376
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, L000, & L020
File Size: 21 MB

Page 195

186
INTRODUCTION being used for worship in Jain temples. The later Sadhus took all these as precedents and justification for their own laxity. They never cared however to take a lesson from his conduct in preferring death to taking food obtained through magic, but as mentioned in Avasyaka Niryukti vv. 1179-81 they preached that even Sådhus should worship Jain idols with flowers and other materials (i.e. perform Dravya-Pūjā) from the said example of Sri Vajraswāmi and that such worship was one of the causes leading to salvation. They thus defended their own laxity. It may be assumed that till Vajraswāmi there was no Caityavāsa,but extreme devotedness to Caityas does appear from his biography. He is credited with deciphering of the flying-lore, through his miraculous intellectual power, from 'Mahaparijnā-Adhyayana' of Sri Acārāngasūtra.* He is said to have incorporated 'Pancamangala Mahāśruta Skandha' i.e. the sacred Panca Parmesti Mantra (which was formerly an independent Sūtra) in Mülasutras. It also appears as already stated that Sri Vajraswāmi separated Vardhamāna Vidya from Sūrimantra.+ It appears from Sri Jinaprabhasūri's Vividha Tirthakalpa that Sri Vajraswāmi rearranged certain works extracted by Sri Bhadrabāhu from Kalpaprābhịta and also extracted others from Vijjāpāhuda which was a summary by Sri Bhadrabāhu from the 10th Pūrva. These are said to have been abridged by Sñ Pādaliptasūri. All these facts go to show Vajraswāmi's great interest and proficiency in Vidyās and Mantras. It must also be remembered that according to Svetambara tradition, he was the last Achārya versed in the ten Purvas, the tenth Purva being the Pūrva relating to Vidyās and
* जेणुद्धरिया विज्जा आगासगमा महापरिण्गाओ। वंदामि अज्जवइरे अपच्छिमी जो सुयहराणं ॥ आवश्यक नियुक्ति, गा० ७६९ ॥ Sri Munisundarasīri praises Sri Vajraswāmi thus:
"या प्रज्ञा यच्च सौभाग्यं यः प्रभावश्च या मतिः।
श्रीमद्वज्रगुरावासंस्तानि नान्यत्र विष्टपे॥ गुर्वावली, लो० २१॥ + SriCandrasena Kşamāśramaņa, probably the grand pupil of Sri Vajraswāmi, a great Māntrika is coasidered by some to have done this.