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On the Allegory of Parasmani
[Developed on a theme discussed by Dr. M. K. Jain in an article on Parasmani and Parasnath]
The early Indian texts and traditions at times contian references of a legendary stone named sparśamani or paraśmani (Bengali, also paraspathar). This stone is said to have the miraculous power in converting any object, be it stone or metal, into pure gold by its mere touch. Thus, in the Srikṛṣṇajanmakhaṇḍa of the Brahmavaivarta Purana the goldtransforming stone is mentioned along with pearls, diamonds and gems of various hues viz., dark, white, green and blood-red.
muktāmāņikaparaśamaṇiratnākaranvitam
kṛşṇasubhraharidrak tamaṇirājavirājitam||
In Indian legends the efficacy of the paraśmani have often a deep spiritual meaning that is more profound than the parable of the Midas Touch. Inspired by the comparable myth of the Philosopher's stone that turned any baser metal into gold the alchemists of mediaeval Europe repeatedly made serious efforts to solve its mystery wherein they failed leaving nevertheless a trail of important discoveries in other fields. In India the stone as a gem (mani) had been sought by believers of its power for centuries in the past as it may still lure those who prefer to have faith in it as a source of inexaustible wealth and a perfect symbol of purity which can convert any ordinary object into gold, a metal not easily affected by time and atmosphere. According to a legend, once there was a statue of Lord Buddha carved in paraśmani in the Tholing Monastery of Tibet. If the story has any basis it is impossible to locate the image with the present state of our knowledge. Another account also in the form of a legend tells how Sanatana, a devoted follower of Sri Caitanya, the apostle of Vaisnavism in mediaeval times indifferently observed a paraśmaṇi and made it over without any hesitation to a Brahmin who unbossomed his hard-luck tale of poverty to the saint when he was contemplating on the banks of the Yamuna at Vrndavana, the region associated with the memory of Krsna's boyhood. Poet Rabindranath who composed a beautiful verse under the name of Spartamani on this theme collected from the Bhaktamal further related that the poor
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| SR No. | 520065 |
| Book Title | Jain Journal 1982 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Jain Bhawan Publication |
| Publisher | Jain Bhawan Publication |
| Publication Year | 1982 |
| Total Pages | 40 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India |
| File Size | 3 MB |