Jain Journal 2001 10

SR No.: 520144
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 49
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 17

KIVUDANAVAR: PRACTICE AND FESTIVALS IN VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE 69 the Nandi varadvipa mandala was made and worshipped with eight kinds of substances. Different mantras were chanted on different days. These mantras were addressed to Nandiśvara, Astamahāvibhūti, Trilokasāgara, Caturmukha, Pancamahālakṣana, Svargasõpāna, Siddhacakra and Indradhvaja In Udyāpana Pūjā 13 Caitrālayas in the four directions were prepared. As in Ratnatraya, the Udyāpana had Jalayātrā, Abhiseka and Sakalikama. The same mantras were read as in the Ratnatraya ceremony.
Śruta Pancami festival falls on Jyēstha Sukla Pancami. On this very day the Jaina Agama Satkhandāgama was completed and four orders of the Jaina Sanghas (Caturvidā Sangha) all together worshipped the Agama and celebrated Śruta Pañcami. This was followed by Srutabhakti, Siddhabhakti and Säntibhakti or the reading of the mantras.
With their religion, the Jainas also attached great importance to pilgrimages. They were specially undertaken on full-moon days in October-November (Kārtika-Purnima) on in April-May. In A.D. 1440, on the day of Raudri Vaisakha, Suddha, 10 Sukravāra (Friday) Jinasēnabhattāraka and the people of Kollāpura along with the Sangha visited Śravanabelgo!a. 17 The great teacher of the Jainas, who was Vādhi Vidyānanda, in order to gain religious merit, performed a mahākāla of cloth, ornaments, gold and silver to the Jaina Sangha at Belgola. In Kopana and other Tirthas, he conducted a great festival by the rite of dehājñā. 18
The Jainas were also celebrating Dīpāvaļi with great religious pomp. The Jaina Divāli originated with the death of Lord Mahāvīra for which B.C. 528-527 is one of the traditionary dates, we can definitely say that it is about 2400 years old.
In the Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics there is an article by Margaret Stevenson on Jaina festivals and fasts. She describes the Divāli of the Jainas as follows:
"Next to Pajjusāna the greatest of all the Jaina sacred seasons is Divāļi. If the former owes its importance to the emphasis which the Jainas lay on the sin of killing, Divāļi derives its position from the importance of wealth to a mercantile community, the Jains. The Jains
17. E.C. Vol. II, Sb. 496. 18. E.C. Vol. VIII, Nr. 46.