Doctrine of Jainas

SR No.: 011097
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Walther Shubring, Wolfgang Beurlen
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1978
Total Pages: 309
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 257

COSMOGRAPHY
241
and Isāna that do so. Their attributes are, according to tradition, the thunderbolt and the elephant as a draught-animal with Sakka (vajja-pānı erāvana-dāhana),1 the spear and the bull with Isāna (süla-p usabha-v ). As a prince of the south Sakka is superior to Isāna (Viy. 168 a). For the way he punishes the Asurakumāra comp. Vıy. 3, 1, and for the way they have a squabbel with Sakka see Vıy. 3, 2. We are also told of Sakka's pre-existence (V1y. 737b). Other details (Viy. 633b, 405b with ref. to Rāyap., see LEUMANN VIth OC III, 2, p. 495 ff., 644b) concerning his faculties, his palace, etc., are not characteristic of him alone, but they give proof of his popularity. Sanamkumāra is placed above both him and Isāna since both appeal to him as an umpire in points of controversy (Viy. 168a), and just as much the princes of every higher region may be supposed to be the superiors to those of the lower So, then. it is Sakka who inaugurates the consecration of the new-born Titthagara, whereas it is Accuya who executes it (Jambudd. 395a, 410a).
$132. It is this the place where to deal with the distinction we observe among all gods, whether it be Bhavanavāsi. Vānamantara, Joisiya, or Vemānıya, under the rulership of their princes. They are followed in rank by 4 chiefs of the four districts orientated towards the main directions, the logan pāla (Viy 194b, 203a). Acc. to Vıy. 3, 8 they are of nearly equal rank with the inda. Their names in every northern half do not only equal those in every southern, but thcy also reappear in all kappa; they are Soma (E ), Jama (S.), Varuna (W), and Vesamana (N.). A great number of related gods is subordinate to those in the upper world including altogether all different kinds of the Bhavanavāsī of either sex, and they, for their part, again control an obedient retinuc. They all arc bound to watch carefully the most manifold occurrences of importance happening within their world-half either on the earth or in the stellar world So Soma and a o thc Vijju-, Aggi- and Vāukumāra are entrusted with supervising all possible
1. The traditionally accepted description of Sabba, Jinac. 14.