Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies Vol 01 Jaina Art and Architecture

SR No.: 006774
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Others
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 726
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 51 MB

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Encyclopaedia of Jaina Studies
as an attendant of the Buddha. It is the Indra who celebrates all the kalyāṇakas or principal events in the life of each of the twenty-four Jinas. We also find references to different categories of dvarapalas with varying appellations and as holding attributes like bow, staff, noose, mace and goad in the context of the samavasarana of the Jinas. The Nirvaṇakalikā describes Tumbaru as a great pratihara of the Jina, who is different from Tumbaru Yakṣa. According to the text, Tumbaru as pratihāra wears a jata-mukuta and a garland of human skulls and carries khatvänga in hand.
VIJAYA-VALJAYANTA-JAYANTAAPARAJITA
The Pratiṣṭhāsāroddhāra invokes the superintending deities of four gates on the Padmavaravedika of Jambudvipa but does not refer to their iconography. Their names are Vijaya, Vaijayanta, Jayanta and Aparajita who preside over the four gates in the four directions, and who are regarded as powerful Yakṣa devas or Dik-Yakṣas or Yakṣas of the four chief quarters. It is worthwhile to note that according to Kautilya's Arthasästra, Vijaya, Vaijayanta, Jayanta and Aparajita are installed (as figures) and worshipped in the centre of the city in a Durga (fortification). NINE NARADAS
The Naradas, nine in number, figure only in Jaina mythology and were never worshipped in Jaina temples. They however correspond with prominent figures of the Brahmanical Purāņas. According to Jaina mythology, the nine Naradas are contemporaries of different Vasudevas. Jinasena provides the list of Naradas in the Harivamsa Purāṇa, which includes Bhima, Mahābhima, Rudra, Mahārudra, Kāla, Mahākāla, Caturmukha (or Durmukha - according to some texts), Naravaktra (Narakamukha - according to the Tiloyapannatti) and Unmukha or Adhomukha (60.55). The Naradas are fond of inciting quarrels and violence and hence they go to hell. Sometimes, they also follow the Dharma and obtain honour and respect from the people. According to Jinasena, Nāradas, white in colour, are graceful and
saintly in appearance and they wear yogapatta, sacred thread and a kaupina (short cloth to cover private organs which is usually worn by Hindu saints). They have moustaches, beard and the jațä. ELEVEN RUDRAS
The Rudras are another group of semi-divine beings borrowed from the Brahmanical pantheon. They are assigned comparatively an inferior position in order to demonstrate the superiority of the Jaina faith. The Rudras, eleven in all, lived in different ages and the last one (Satyaki) was a contemporary of Mahāvīra. As pious and followers of the Jaina faith, they are said to have practised penance for obtaining mokṣa. They are also destined to become siddhas in future births.
The first Rudra was Bhimabali who lived during the time of Ṛsabhanatha, the second was Jitaśatru in the age of Ajitanatha, the third called Rudra was a contemporary of Suvidhinatha and the fourth Visalanayana (or Vaiśvānara) lived in the time of Śitalanatha. Next in order were Supratistha, Acala, Pundarika, Ajitandhara, Ajitanābhi, Pitha and Satyakiputra, who were contemporaries respectively of Sreyamsa, Vasupujya, Vimala, Ananta, Dharma, Śantinātha and Mahāvīra. However, the Svetambara tradition furnishes different list.
KAMADEVAS
Both the sects mention twenty-four Kamadevas who were Great Souls. But they were not included in the list of the sixty-three Šalākāpuruṣas. However the three Kamadevas are also the Jinas and hence they appear in the list of the Salakāpuruṣas. The 24 Kamadevas are Bahubali, Prajapati, Śrīdhara, Darśanabhadra, Prasenacandra, Candravarṇa, Agniyukta, Sanatkumāra, Vatsarāja, Kanakaprabha, Meghaprabha, Śantinatha, Kunthunatha, Aranatha, Vijayaraja, Śricandra, Nalaraja, Hanumāna, Balirāja, Vasudeva, Pradyumna, Nagakumara, Jivandhara and Jambūsvāmi. (Tiloyapanṇatti 4.14-72).
Some of these Kamadevas such as Bahubali were great Jaina sages. Others like Śantinätha, Kunthunatha