Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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The Unknown Pilgrims
within the Jaina community at large. It is clear that they fostered faith in the dharma and provided an unflagging encouragement and stimulus. These offerings were part of the worship paid to the arhats; now, the arhats are not dispensers of favours, so this worship constituted, rather, an act of homage to their spiritual perfection, a concrete demonstration of faith in their teaching. These offerings were all meritorious religious acts, they helped in the maintenance of spiritual health in the community, and in keeping up its fervour. We note that certain images were offered "for the well-being of all living beings", 80 which shows that the essential of the doctrine had profoundly affected the members of the samgha.
These inscriptions of the Kuşāņa epoch are dated from years 4 to 98, which would correspon approximately to years 82 to 176 of our era. 81 Here are the names of the Āryas or āryikās mentioned, each of which is a sign of a life spent in the resolute practice of asceticism: Ārya Jaya (Aryya Jayā); Deva, Ārya Vasulā (Aryya Vasulā) and Ārya Samgamikā (Aryya Sangamikā); Kumāramitrå (Kumāramitā); Dhanyäśri (Diañāśiri); Akakā, Nanda and Balavarmā; Ārya Jinadāsi (Aryya Jinadāsi); Arhaddăsi (Arhadāsi) and Grahavilā; Dattă (Datā) and A'ya Jivă (Ayikā Jivā); Arya Nāgadattā (Aryya Nāgadattā); Sãditā; Ārya Śyāmā (Aryya Samā).82 In certain inscriptions the title Aryya is followed by a name which is partially effaced;83 elsewhere the name is completely effaced but the word Sisini remains.84 Despite
80 "sarvasatvan hitasukhaya": Bühler, EI, vol. II, inscrs. xxxvii; cf. also inscrs. xiii; xxxiv.
81 Despite the uncertainty which exists concerning the exact date of the inscriptions, it seems fairly sure that they belong to the Ist-IInd c., cf. C.). Shah, 1932, p. 199.
82 Cf. Lüders, El, vol. X, App. inscrs. 21; 23a; 24 (70); 39; 45a; 48; 50; 59a; 67; 86; 117; 121. One notices that certain names are preceded by the title Arya and others not; however, these latter have been able to be identified by means of the word śiśini which accompanies them.
83 Ibid. inscrs. 75; 119.
84 Ibid. inscrs. 32; 86.