Jain Journal 1992 01

SR No.: 520105
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1992
Total Pages: 48
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 27

172
nompies were narrated11 to the householders, generally by the Acaryas in order to evoke the faith in the doctrine of Vardhamana Mahavira.
The nompies were usually performed in the regional temples but the prevalent belief was that it was meritorious to perform the worship at places of pilgrimage, particularly during some auspicious months of the year when the temples were accessible to a large number of pilgrims. These auspicious months were mostly Aşaḍha, Śravaṇa, Bhadrapada and Aśvina. These months are considered auspicious because they are associated with the ascetic observance of caturmäsa. During this period, the ascetics restrict their movements and conduct themselves to religious discourses, svadhāya, writing, meditation, etc.12
Aṣṭānhikā pūjā was one of the popular nompies which was observed by the Jainas of Karnataka. Reference to this nompy has been made in Rappa's text Ajitanatha Purana whereupon he stresses the need to perform Aşṭāṇhikā vrata by all the Jaina Śravakas.
JAIN JOURNAL
sakala śrāvaka janangal mālpa pujayakkum18
Initially this nompy was observed for eight days. During this period, upavāsa (fasting) was also observed. The observers of this nompy were called Asto pavāsis.14 An inscription at Śravaṇabelgola also refers to Pattani Guruvadigal. This inscription is in the Tamil character and hence it is also presumed that the monks were from Tamil Nadu, 'Pattani' in Tamil means 'fasting'. This proves that there is a semblance between the term 'Pattani' and the term 'Aştopavăsi' of the Kannada region. This shows that fasting (during the Aṣṭāṇhikā pūjā) was observed both by the ascetics and the laymen during auspicious days.15
Nandiśvara nompy was generally performed by the Jaina aristocracy initially and later even the common house-holders observed this nompy in a simple form. On the eve of the udyāpana or final con
11 Nom. Ka-HPN.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
15 P. B. Desai, Jainism in South India.