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

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INTRODUCTION
APPENDIX 14
Appendix 14 contains 'Sārdāstavana'a Mantric hymn to Sarasvati by Sri linaprabhasūri whose life we have already described (see 229-236). It is a beautiful hymn and may serve as an illustration of the great poetical powers of its author and his fondness for Mantras. As in the writer's copy of the hymn instead of stayedo' in v. 4 the reading is stagare. there appears to be an allusion to the great Māntrika Indranandi. V. 7 describes a rosary, a lotus, a Viņā or lute and a book as the symbols of Sarasvati who is said to be residing in a lotus. It is expressly stated in v. 9 that the hymn contains a great Sarasvata Mantra which is probably this:"ॐ ऐ ही श्रीं वद २ वाग्वादिनि भगवति #rafa jaf"
APPENDIX 15 The Devistotra comprised in the 15th Appendix is probably composed by some non-Jain writer. It contains various names of Sarasvati, Laksmi, Yoginī and others. It may be noted that the author identifies Devi with Jainesvarī, Bauddhamătar and Jinamátar. It is easy to identify Jainesvari as Sri Ambikä as she is described as riding on a lion.
ŚRI AMBIKA As the works in Appendices 16 to 21 relate to Sri Ambika, we shall offer a few preliminary remarks about her.
We have already shown that Sri Ambikā has been worshipped by the Jains from very ancient times and that she is considered to be the Jain Amnāya deity. Many have been perplexed as to why Sri Ambika is associated with the images of various other Tirthankaras although an attendant deity of the 22nd Tirthankara Sri Neminātha. The reason is that she is the deity taken to represent the Jain Amnāya as Tārā represents the Bauddha Amnāya. Not only is she associated with other Tirthankaras but her images also are found installed in the temples of various other Tirthankaras-not merely in the temple of Sri Neminātha. For instance, Sri Jinaprabhasūri in his Vividhatirtha Kalpa on