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 259

COSMOGRAPHY
243 partly able to interpret differently or either not at all (Thān. 128a; Viy. 202a; Jiv. 164b). It would take cxtensive tables to render the figures both relating to these gods and to the sāmāniya, and we may content ourselves with sayıng that the outer council is the largest and that all three of their kind are also shared by goddesses, though to a comparatively small extent only.1
In the afore mentioned sequence traditionally acknowledged we also find the chief Queen Consorts numbering 4 to 8 (though from Sanamkumāra onward they disappear) together with their attendants, whereas we miss the ministering gods so frequently listed elsewhere (ābhrogiya), their absence being apparently due to their being classed with the centre world.
§ 133. The activities of the godly princes and their heavenly hosts have been sufficiently explained by the description concerning their state organization faithfully reflecting human living conditions and involving their terrestrial shortcoming, i. e. rivalries and struggles. The range of power (iddhi, Thān. 172a) of a god goes beyond four to five godly places pertaining to his class; beyond it he requires support (par’rddhı)). Of two gods possessing the same amount of power he will lose the battle who fails to be on the alert (pamatta). Circumstances permitting trickery (vimohitta, Viy. 498b, 637a, 751b) is employed, c.g. the producing of darkness. To a sinful heretic god it may happen that he attacks a spiritually advanced monk (magg ham magghenam vridagai, Viy, 636b), most certainly because in exercising magic ($ 181) he thinks him to be his like.
The life of the gods passes in a state beyond timc (Viy. 522a)-since the stars dividing time mcrcly pertain to the centre world in the uncarthly radiance of the figures with their jewelry and their princely residences (Thān. 263a).3 They pass in luxury and pomp and in the enjoyment of scnsual
1. With Camara in thc samyā 350 against 24,000
2 Viy 631b, also on the gradation of the thrcc fansă Comp. also LEUMANN, VIth OC III, 2, P 491, Jambudd V; Uit 36, 263
3 The dccrcase of this radiance indicates that the godly lfc in soon going to somc to an end (Than 1416)