Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 288

260
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1873.
Sumanasa, Savisala Sarvatobhadra, Manorama, Saprabaddha, and Sudarśana.*
After these celestial regions, the Digambaras, or pious men of the Jainas, place sixteen, and other authors twelve regions, which are arranged in eight grades above the earth. These have the following names :-Achyuta, Aruna. Pranata and Anatha, Sahas. rara, Sukra, Lântaka, Brahma, Mahendra and Sanat ku mà ra, Isa na and Såd håma. These twelve worlds are called Vimánas, and their inhabitants in common Kalpavásin. Lastly, the Jainas distinguish four classes of gods of low rank, namely: Vaim anika, Bhuvanapati, Jyoti sha, and V yantara. The last class contains the Piśâ chas, Rakshasas, Gandharva s, and the remaining evil spirits and servitors of the gods of the Brahmans. The Jyotisha are, as the name implies, the stars, the planets, the moon and the sun. The gods inhabiting the abovenamed twelve worlds belong to the Vaima nikas. The class of Bhuvanapatis, i. e. lords of the worlds, consists of ten divisions, each five whereof are governed by the Brahmanic king of gods, Indra; in this class the Jainas reckon the Asurak u måras, the Naga ku mâras, etc.; and they have, doubtless from hatred to the Brahmans, deprived their Indra of his particular servants the Gandharvas and Apsarasas. Let it be observed in conclusion that the preceding description of the system of the gods of the Jainas abundantly proves the thesis that the
system of gods of this sect is a peculiar one, and that it has assigned a subordinate place to the Brahmanic deities. This is also plain from the circumstance that the Jainas consider all these beings to be mortal, the Jyotishas perhaps being the only exceptions. I
Of the constitution and manner of living of the Jainas, I mean to point out only the princi. pal features, as a detailed representation of the subject is foreign to the purpose now in view. They consist of two large divisions : priests and devout persons are called Sådhu-the good; and laymen Srå vakas, which name, strictly meaning "huarer," designates also an adherent of Buddha. The names Mukta mbara, Muktavasana, and Digambar a apply only to those members of this sect which closely follow the laws of nudity S. The pions obtain also the name Yati, given by Brahmans from olden times to their penitents. The Jainas resemble the Brahmans in the following particulars :-they admit of four castes; they submit to the sacred ordinances called sanskára, which commence at the birth and last till mar. riage; they worship some of the household gods of the chief Brahmanic sects; and, at least in Southern India, Brahmans perform religious ceremonies for the Jainas.ll Their festivals are peculiar, and are especially dedicated to Pårévanátha, the 23rd, and to Vardha. mâna or Mahâ vira, the 24th Jina, in localities where temples are built to their memory. I
The Jainas erect marble, and sometimes colossal, statues of these two Jinas.* Besides the festivals dedicated to them, they celebrate also
* This name occurs also among Buddhists and designates among them a class of gods of the second dhyana ; see Ind. Alt. III. p. 391.
+ The Jainas assume, according to Colebrooke, Misc. Essays, II. p. 223, that the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars take too much time in their rotations around Sumeru in order to appear at the right time, and therefore they double all these celestial bodies.
I Colebrooke, Misc. Essays, II. p. 223. Also Wilson, has, ut sup. represented the mythology of the Jainas. A coording to him, the name Kalpavd.sin refers to the circumstance that each of these twelve gods presides over one kalpa or period.
S J. Stevenson's preface to his edition of the Kalpasitra, p. xi.; Colebrooke, Misc. Essays, I. p. 380. The name
Adhu applies only to secular (not monastic) priests; (see below, p. 262, n. 1; Digambara-literally a man whose garment is space. On Sråvaka see Ind. Alt. II. p. 461.
|| Colebrooke, in his Misc. Essays, II. p. 192, and Wilson, As. Res. XVII. p. 275. [The Priests in all the Jaina temples in Western India are Brahmans.-Ed. Inch Ant.]
Wilson, in As. Res, XVII. p. 276. There is a cele brated temple of Parivandths on Mount Samota
Sikhar or Parasnath in Pachete, on the frontiers of Ramgarh, described in the Description of the Temple of Parsvandtha at Samet Sekhar, by Lieut.-Col. William Francklin, in the Trans. of the R. 48. S. I. pp. 527 sega. On this spot this Jina obtained his deliverance, i.e. he died. There is a temple of Mahlvira, considered very sacred, near A p&puri, P&papuri, or Payapuri, in South Bih&r, on the spot where Mah &vira or Vardhain and died. it is frequented by many pilgrims from distant places. In the district Nevad, in South Bihar, there are three temples dedicated to this Tirthankara, and they are much frequented by Jaina pilgrima; they are described in Description of Temples of the Jains in South Behar and Bhaghalpur, by Dr. Fr. Buchanan Hamilton, Ty. R. As. 8. I. pp. 523 8699. In all these three temples Bhajak Brahmans undertake to purify and to adorn them, they also receive the pilgrims. In a fourth temple at Puri the footsteps of Mahayirs are shown to the pilgrims: here he is called Gautama MahAvire. A few inscriptions preserved there have been communicated by Colebrooke, I. pp. 820 seqq. under the title On Inscriptions at Temples of the Jaina Sect in South Behar. They owe their origin to pious Jaina named Sangrama Govardhanadusa, and one of them besn the date Samust 1686, or 1629 A.D. •As well as to Rishabhan&ths.-E. Ind. Ant.