Jain Journal 2006 10 No 04

SR No.: 520264
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 22

82
JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLI, NO. 2 OCTOBER, 2006
used in the list as found in the Kalpasūtra is vimāna bhavana which is explained by the later commentators as vimāna and bhavana, the former being seen by the mother of the Jina who descends from Heaven and the latter by that of the Jina that comes from the Naraka (infernal regions) 104
Here again as the next itein the Digambara texts like the Uttara Purāņa inserts Dharanendra-bhavana. This bhavana of the Naga Chief is described not by any artificial decorations, but is said to be lastrous with three-fold knowledge (tribodha-dīdhiti).
It is perhaps the glow of the jewels which is to resemble the inner spirit of the Jina to come. This is why a 'heap of jewels' is another of the important auspicious dreams. It is rather an interesting study that the Jainas of the Digambara school whose abhorrence for all kinds of ornaments and jewelleries for the Tīrthankara is wellpronounced should also approve of such a conception with regard to the Mother's dream. In fact, here the aniconic conception of the 'heap of jewels' has very little connection with the actual anthropomorphic forms of the Jina. The aniconic symbolism that here is the object of our study merely represents an attribute of the Lord rather than any idea as to the forma decorations of Him. In other words, the Lord is never conceived as the 'heap of the jewels' or for the matter of that, any of the symbols to be seen in the dream but that these symbols are invariably the attributes of Him, the symbolic representations of some of His many-sided qualities. Indeed the Deva-vimāna, or the celestial abode should be classed as the 'associated symbols' discussed at the outset of our present chapter. For it is in connection with the descent of the Lord from Heaven to earth that the Deva-vimāna is seen, just in the same way as the Dharma-cakra as the “associated symbol' is connected with the preaching of Law by the Lord. But the distinction between the Buddhist conception and that of the Jains lies in the fact
104. Cf. Vimānam devasamvandhi bhavanam grham, tatra yaḥ svargādavatarati
tanmātā vimānam paśyati yastu narakādāyāti tanmata bhavanamiti. - .Kalpasūtra with Subodhika-vștti by Vinayavijaya, p. 12, see, also, Ibid, with Pradipika-vrti by Sanghavijaya Gani, P. 12