Tulsi Prajna 1975 07

SR No.: 524503
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mahavir Gelada
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 116
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 7 MB

Page 62

state of our knowledge. But there is little doubt that he came to be associated with Yaksas long before Mahāvīra and Buddha.
From the epics we learn a great deal about Yakşas and some of their prominent leaders. In both the Rämāyana and Mahabhårata the Yakşas, unlike other supernatural beings, appear as demi-gods. The interesting story told about the struggle of the Yakşas as led by Kubera, and Rākşas led by his younger brother Rāvana in the Uttarakānda 5 of the Rāmāyana shows that by the time that portion of the epic was composed, the Yakşas were looked upon as somewhat benevolent beings, We should particularly take note of the epithet mahatman applied to Manibhadra and Kubera in that Book of the Rámåyans 8 The famous YakşaYudhisthira story told in the Mahābhārata.? also proves that the poet of that part of the great epic bad real deference for Yaksas. Another point that will have to be noted in this connexion is that Kubera or Vaisravana, the lord of the Yaksas in the epics, is conceived not only as an honourable member of the Brāhmanical pantheon but also as one of the four Lokapālas. We are told in the Uttarakanda 8 that formerly there were three Loka
pālas and that Kubera or Vaišravana was installed as the fourth Lokapāla by Brahman after the former satisfied the latter by his penances. There is no doubt that Kubera was either a Raksa or Yaksa before he was accepted in the Indian pantheon and his elevation supports our conten. tion that in the period of the composition of the epics, Yaksas had their regular devotees among the local population, and this will be confirmed by our present discussions.
in the literature of both the Jains and Buddhists the Yakşas plays a very important role. But the early Jain canonical writers, even more than their Buddhist counter-parts, show a very intimate acquaintance not only with the Yaksas, but also disclose the names of innumerable Yakşa shrines of the Aryāvarta and Uttarāpatha. Anyone who is even superficially acquainted with the Angas and Upāngas know that one such Yakşa shrine is mentioned almost in every Sutra of these texts. There was hardly a city or town which had not a Yakşa ayatana or caitya. We are giving below a list containing the names of some important shrines ( majority of which were dedicated to Yakşas ) in the Jain texts.
Name of the city Vardhamānapura Kayamgalā
Name of the Shrine Manibhadra Chattapaläsa
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