Holy Abu

SR No.: 023259
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala
Publication Year: 1954
Total Pages: 380
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

Page 90

Arbudachala ]
rising to about 90° in April, while the average annual rainfall is about 68 inches only.
A few Jaina references to Mount Abu may be noted. The Bṛhat-Kalpa-Bhāṣhya' refers to the festival or picnic which people used to enjoy in Yātrā at Prabhāsa Pattana, or at Mount Abbuya ( Arbuda). This Sankhaḍī was also known to people of Bharukachchha (Broach) and Anandapura (modern Vaḍnagara). People seem to have gathered together without distinction and enjoyed eating and drinking outside the city areas.
Legends about the building of Vimala Vasahī shrine on Delvāḍā (in C. 1030 A. D.) by the minister Vimala Saha suggest that before this date there was either no Jaina site on Mount Abu, or all traces of such a site were destroyed. But there are other notices which are noteworthy.
Jinaprabhasūri (14th Century A. D.) in his DhimpuriTīrtha-Kalpa 2 says that Acharya Susthita sūri, went on a pilgrimage to Aṣṭāpada, from Arbudachala. Susthita sūri, according to Jaina traditions. lived 291 years after Mahavīra (i. e. c. 236 B. C.) 3
According to the Upadeshasaptatikā, Pādalipta Sūri, an ancient Jaina acharya, who lived in c. Ist cent. A.D., daily used to travel in the air with the help of his magic powers (ākāsha-gāminī-vidyā) and pay his respects to the Jaina
1 Composed in c. 6th century A. D.; Brhat-Kalpa-Bhashya, ed. by Muni Śrī Punyavijaya (Bhavanagar, 1933-52, in six Vols.), Vol. III, pp. 883-84.
2 Vividha-Tirthakalpa (Simghi Series, Bombay-Calcutta, 1934, Vol. X), p. 81.
3 Susthita sūri was the pupil of Arya Suhasti, the contemporary of Mauryan ruler Samprati. But it may be remembered that the tradition obtained in Jina prabha's work is a late one and awaits further coroboration-Translator.