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 23

A. K. Bhattacharyya: Studies In Jaina Iconography
that neither the 'heap of jewels' nor the Deva-vimāna itself is identified with the Lord himself.
The Kalpasūtra describes the heap of jewels (rayaṇanikararasim) as consisting of Pulaka, Vajra, Indranila, Sasyaka, Karketana, Lohitākṣa, Marakata, Prabāla, Saugandhika, Sphatika, Hamsagarva, Anjana and Candrakanta. The heap is said to have its base on the level of the earth and it illumined with its jewels even the sphare of the sky' 105.
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The last symbol is the symbol of the smokeless fire. The Digambara Uttarapurāṇa says that it signifies that the coming child will be able to destory all sinful actions (dāhakoṁhasām). The smokelessness of the fire is very significant. For, although the fire represents the fiery-spirit as also purity and brightness, the smoke that accompanies it often detracts much of its pristine glory. The 'flames' of fire according to European accultist conception are a hierarchy of spirits parallel to and probably identical with, the burning fiery Seraph (Seraphim) mentiond by Isaiah. These spirits attend the 'throne of the Almighty' according to Hebrew theogony. Melha is the Lord of the 'flames'. According to a popular legend Melha, when he appears on earth, is identical with the personality of a Buddha. Indeed, as such he is one of the most ancient and revered Lhas, corresponding to a Buddhist Saint Michael. The flames or Fires represent spirit or the male element, and water, matter or the opposite element. The Kalpasūtra describes the fire as the object of dream as being in vehement motion and as smokeless and crackling (dhagadhagaiya). The mass of its flames, which rose one above the other, seemed to interpenetrate each other, and the blaze of its flames appeared to bake the firmament in some places106!
Fire or tejas (teu) as the fiery-spirit of the human mind, and as the constituent element in the material body of human beings
105. Kalpasūtra (Tr. by F. Max Muller), p. 238
06. Ibid, loc. cit.