Tulsi Prajna 1996 04

SR No.: 524587
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Parmeshwar Solanki
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 194
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India
File Size: 8 MB

Page 160

VIDYAS IN THE VASUDEVAHIMDI
Rant Majumdar
The central focus in Gunadhya's lost paisaci Vaddhakahā (Skt. Bshatkatha) are the Vidyadharas. Not only do Vidyadharas and Vidyadharts occur in many of its stories, but the goal of the narrative itself is the protagonist Naravābapadatta becoming the overlord of the Vidyadharas. Who are these Vidyadharas ? The Amarakosa merely declares that these are semi-divine beings (devayonayah) like the Gandharvas, Siddhas, Yaksas, Kinnaras etc., but surely the Vidyādbaras must be distinguished by the Vidyas they possess. What are these vidyās ?a
The various Sanskrit versions of the Vaddhakabā do not offer any help here. But fortunately the earliest Jaina version, namely the Vasudevahimdi' by Sapgbadasagani Vacaka (5th century A.D) and also the Vasudevahimdi Majjhima Khamdaby Dharmasenagapi Mabattara (7th century A.D.) throw much light on the vidyās of the Vidyadharas.
The word vidyâ, from the root-vid jñāne, means 'knowledge', 'learning' or 'science'. In the upadişads also the word vidyā occurs several times. Here it has a deeper meaning. It represents adhyātma vidyās or Brahma vidyā, i.e., spiritual knowledge. It is an antethesis to ignorance (aññāna). In the upanişads, Vidyā mostly occurs along with avidyā. In various principal upa nişads, the two terms Vidyā and avidyā are referred to as śreyas and preyas, para-aparā', akşarā and ksarā etc.
But the vidyās related to the Vidyadharas are entirely different. These are mostly unusual, superhuman powers.
According to the Vasudevahtrdi these vidyās number forty eight thousand. There is an interesting story about Nami and Vinami, who hailed from the family of Usabha. Before his renunciation, Usabha distributed his kingdom amongst his hundred sops. But at that time Nami and Vinami were not present. Afterwords they served Usabha with deep devotion, while he was practising penance. The lord of serpents, Dharanendra, pleased with their dedication gave them overlordship of the two rows of mount Veyaddha (skt. Vaitadhya). But no one could ascend these places on foot, therefore