Indological Studies

SR No.: 022756
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: H C Bhayani
Publisher: Parshva Prakashan
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 376
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 93

"The Character of Akşiptikā
83
We have also a second reference to Ākşiptikā in the Kuvalayamālā. A Yakşa girl is described as singing Akşiptikā during her worhsip of the image of Arhat Rşabha (i. e. the first Jaina Tirthamkara) (Kuvalayamālā, p. 116, 1. 11)5. It also gives the actual verse that was sung. The verse describes the holy feet of the Jina. (11. 18-19).
These eighth century references are important for showing that Akşiptikā was used for prayers (Stutis and Stotras) by Saivas and Jainas. We saw that Bhoja's illustration of Akşiptikā is a prayer to Mahālakṣmi.
If we can find some more literary references to Akașiptikā, they may shed further light on its character.
Notes
1. See Raghavan, 1963, pp. 370-371; 604-606. 2. Raghavan, 1963, p. 606. Raghavan says that the definition is
not from the text of Bharata's Nātyaśāstra as it is known to
us to-day. 3. Kuvalayamālā, pp. 82. 31 to 83. 2) 4. डज्झिर-तिल-पय-समिहा-तडत्तडा-सद्दई जन्न-मडवेसु, गभीर-वेय-पढण-रवई बंभण
सालासु, मणहर-अस्खित्तिया-गेयई रुद्द-भवणेसु, गल्ल-फोडण-रवई धम्मिय-मढेसु, घटा-डमरुय-सद्दई कावालिय-घरेसु, तोडहिया-पुक्करियइ चच्चर-सिवेसु, भगवगीयागुणन-धणीओ आवसहा(?हे)सु, सब्भूय-गुण-रइयई थुइ-थोत्तइ जिणहरेसु, एय'तकरुणा-णिबद्धत्थई वयणई बुद्ध-विहारेसु, चालिर-महल्ल-घटा-खडहडओ कोहज्जाघरेसु, सिहि-कुक्कुड-चडय-रवई छम्मुहालएसु, मणहर-कामिणी-गीय-मुरव-रवई तुग-देव-घरेसु त्ति। 4. The edited text calls the verse Duvai-khamdalaya. (Dvipadi
khandaka), but the Ms. P, reads akkhittiya i. e. Aksiptika) in its place. Duval (Dvipadi) characterizes the metre of the verse, while Akşiptikā indicates its specific musical mode of singing.