Arhat Vachan 1999 01

SR No.: 526541
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Anupam Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 112
Language: Hindi
Classification: Magazine, India_Arhat Vachan, & India
File Size: 8 MB

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of wild animals. These three figures and the yantra drawn in front of them are reminiscent of the Jagannatha Trinity and the painting of those idols.
The second place where the fertility rites are held in an elaborate manner is at the confluence of river Indravatt & Moran.
At this place there is a beautiful image of Jaina Sasana Devt. She is Cakresvart of the first Tirthankara, Rsabhanatha. The sculpture depicts a two handed goddess with a nubile body. She is locally known as Dhangdi Devi (young lady). The ornaments on the figure clearly indicate the influence of Paraja tribal women. A Paraja is the priest. He sacrifices pigs for the indistinct shapeless wooden deity called Mauli (earth goddess) across the fence. For the Dhangdi Devi, he sacrifices only hens and ducks, and pigs are taboo. After an elaborate ritual, the seeds are taken from the deity by young Paraja women for sowing in the fields.
The third place where the cyclic rites are held is at Dundhari on the Mali mountains. No Paraja, Gadava or a Khond would eat Kandula (Redgram) without first offering the same to the Kandulabhaji Devi sitting atop a hillock. After offering Kandula the tribals come down to the bank of river Kerandi (tributary of Kolab) and pray to Siva. Sva is none other than Mahavira Tirthankara in Vyakhyana Mudra (Rare Mudra for, a Jaina idol). Dharanendra, Padmavatt idols also are worshipped alongwith Siva. Across the rivulet, the Parajas & Gadbas perform the buffalo sacrifice and embed pieces of flesh in the field for good crop.
The fourth place of fertility rites in Kechla. Here the Paraja Jaani invokes Jogi Mashapru (risvanath) in the following manner:
Tash kale tash habu bet kale bet habu salre ga habu
katare pa habu
(Give me best crop after cultivation, best wild animals during hunting, good cows in the cowshed and healthy baby in the house).
After incantation he draws a yantra of rectangles & circles. Invacations are followed by sacrifice and feast.
The fifth place of these rites is Chatuaon the bank of river Patal (Machkunda). At this place both Rsabhanatha and Dharanedra Padmavati are propitiated during the Badabhet. Yantra is drawn with Ragi powder. The yantra is a rectangle with semi-circles all around. Buffalo sacrifice is made in the name of Bhairava. Here Bhairava is Dharanendra, the Sasana Devata of Parasvanatha.
Mandei is another food gathering rite of the trilbals. It is mostly held in the month of Māgh. During this period the Lathi, representing the tribal Arhat Vacana, January 99
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