Indian Antiquary Vol 40

SR No.: 032532
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 388
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 167

JUNE, 1911.)
JAINA ICONOGRAPHY
JAINA ICONOGRAPHY, BY D. R. BHANDARKAR, M.A., POONA.
(Continued from p. 180.) In connection with verse 10, the following from Hemachandra's work may be read :
मध्ये समवसर चैत्यनुयॆन्तरैः कृतः। कोशबोरयो रलचोदवमिवादिशत् ॥ ४५२ ।। सस्थायी विविध रत्नेः पीठं विवधिरे च ते । तस्योपरि च्छन्दकं चाप्रतिच्छन्दमणीमवम् ॥ ५३॥ तन्मध्ये पूर्वदिग्भागे रत्नसिंहासनं ततः । सपारपीतेचाः सारं सर्वश्रिवामिव ।। ५५४।।
Translation. 452. In the centre of the samavasarana a chaitya tree was set up by the Vyantaras, three krokas in height and declaring as it were the prosperity of the Three (Sacred) Gems.
453. Underneath it they prepared deis with various jewels, and on it a chhandaka of incomparable rubies.
454. In the centro thereof (bat) facing the east, they prepared a gem-studded lion-throne accompanied by a foot-stool, (wbich was), as it were, the essence of all beauties.
There are two points in these verses which require a little elucidation. The first is about the, height of the chaitya tree, which is here said to be 8 kerosas high. I have stated above that the samarasarana doscribed in Hemachandra's work, from which extracts are here cited, is that of Rishabhan atha. The height of this Jina, according to Jaina mythology, is 500 dhanus, and as the general rule is that the height of a chaitya tree is twelve times the height of the Jina to whom it belongs, the height of Rishabhanatha's tree is 500 x 18 dhanus = 6,000 dhanus = 3 krokas, the hright specified in Hemachandra's verses. The second point is as regards the lion-throne on the derachchhanda. According to our Samavasarana-stavana, v. 10, four such bave to be made, but Hemachandra speaks of only one, as will be seen from his verse 454 just quoted. There is, however, really speaking, no great discrepancy here, for in verse 464, which will be cited further on, we are told that the Vyantaras made three images of the Jina as seated on the lion-throne. The ultimate result is the same, though according to Hemachandra only one, and, according to the other authority, four, lion-thrones are in reality made.
सपरिचउछत्ततिया पडिकवतिगं तहहचमरधरा ।
पुरची कणवकुसेसवठियफालिवधम्मचक चऊ ॥ ११ ॥ तनुपरि (1) छत्रविकानि | प्रतिरूपत्रिक वानश्यन्तरेन कृतं च | तथाष्टचामरधरा भवन्ति । कनककुशेपावस्थितानि स्फाटिकानि धर्मचकापि चत्वारि सिंहासनपुरती भवन्ति ।। ११॥
(V. 11). On those (four lion-thrones) there are four triads of parasols. There are threo reflections of the Jins, produced by the Vâņa-Vyantaras). Similarly there are eight chauri bearers (two for each lion-throne). In front of the lion-thrones) are four wheels of the Law, (ono for ench) made of crystal gems and resting on gold lotuses.
What is contained in this verse is dilated upon in the following lines from the Trishashti-saldkd-purusha-charitra.