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deity, is taken from place to place. Alongwith the Lathi, tribal women carry flower from one Jaina idol to the other. By this way a cementing bond has been forged among the Jaina idols and tribal places of worship.
With the decline of the Chindaka Nagas, the Gajapati king controlled Koraputa in the 15th centruy A.D. Militia men of the Gajapatis called Khandayats had settled in the area. Some of them took over the priestly functions from the Jaanis of the tribals. Jaanis is a derivative of the Jaina. Ranas (warriors), Paikas (warrior), Kumbhar (Potter), Mall (Gardner) became priest of some of the Jaina idols. Inspite of this, the tribal has been coming to those idols for the propitiation. Although Jaina influence is quite predominant is case of Paraja, Gadha, Khond, and Amanatyas, it is minimal in case of Bhumiyas and Gonds. It has no influence on the Bondas and Didayis, though they live on the Siliru basin.
After the decline of the Chindaka Nagas, a branch of the ruling family settled at Sarhati a top the Kutnimala mountains, overlooking the old fort of Nandapur. This group is called Benaagparaja. Till date the headman of this group presides over the fertility rite of 130 villages in and around Nandapur. The Headman also receives a portion of the first fruit or crop. By tradition, the headman is a vegetarian.
However, the tribals have not included the Jaina Tirthankars and Sasana Devis in their Pantheon. They look upon the idols with awe and suspicion. It can be summed up by a Gadba incantation to the Trinity of Deta Hasnjar
Aume - dara bidikā na kāru
kālā katha sedha deme.
goda ke kantha raken.
mund ke lathā raken
54
(OM. do not scare me.
Ensure that your promises are fulfilled
let there be no prick on my feet.
let no one accuse me of any misdeed.)
Received 14.11.96
बधाई !
अखिल भारतीय कांग्रेस कमेटी की पंजाब प्रान्तीय इकाई के अल्पसंख्यक प्रकोष्ठ के उपाध्यक्ष पद पर श्री पुरुषोत्तमजी जैन, मंडी गोविन्दगढ़ को मनोनीत किया गया है। श्री जैन युवा सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता हैं, जिन्होंने पंजाबी भाषा में जैनधर्म विषयक पुस्तकों का लेखन / सम्पादन / प्रकाशन किया है।
मनोनयन हेतु बधाई ।
Arhat Vacana, January 99
| SR No. | 526541 |
| Book Title | Arhat Vachan 1999 01 |
| 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 |