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Part 3 Mythology
176
The miserable life of hellish beings is already described in the Sutrakrta I. And the mythological accounts of the Jainas must have been developed gradually, after the classes of H.A.M.G (Hellish beings, Animals, Men and Gods) were accepted and their subclasses began to be developed, along with the formulation of the cosmographical outlines. It takes the course of a rapid growth in the fifth stage, keeping pace with the completion of the Jaina cosmography, Mythological stories, which are as a rule composed with a definite intention to attract and edify a popular audience, while infusing into their hearts a sense of the supremacy of the Jainas and the Jaina-centred world view, commence on the whole as the final canonical stage is entered; and they continue to grow into the form of puranas in the medieval age. The Jaina mythology thus blossomed in the Gupta period, the age of Hindu renaissance, when the then Hindu sects were competing by composing their own puranas from their self-centred world views, in order to establish their superiority over their rivals. The Jainas who were in a similar position during this trend adopted the then popular mythological figures of the Hindus, particularly their favourite Indra or Śakra under the dominion of a tirtharkara.
177
The Bhagavati materials collected in this part generally fall in the final canonical period, which covers the following topics: (1) Mythological accounts of the celestial kings, including the description of their capital cities, sabhas and retinues, etc., (2) Etymological explanation of certain classes of devas, (3) Devas' rddhi and vikurvana, and (4) King Sakra.
(1) Mythological accounts of the celestial kings
178
Camara and Bali, kings of the Asurakumaras in the South and North, and Sakra and I'sana, kings of Saudharma and I'sana Kalpas located in the South and North, are the two pairs of gods who attracted the particular attention of the then canonical authors. 1.8.115 relates the location and size of Camaracanca, capital city of Camara, along with a description of his palace, sabha and so on therein. For details, the text refers to the accounts of Vijayadvara in the Jivajivabhigama (Duipasagara p.) 129ff. XII.6.489 which refers to 1.8. 115 tells us that Camara's residence, also called Camaracanca, is used for amusement alone and not for residence. These texts were composed in the fifth canonical stage, which must be likewise true of the accounts of Bali occurring in X V1.9.586 (which refers to [1.8.115).
179 The Rajapra'sniya is cited in X.6.406 for the location and size of Sakra's sabha
as well as for the particulars of his abhiseka, retinues, and so on. In other words, the Rajapra'sniya is here referred to for the total content of this text.
XVI.5.602(X) refers to the Prajnapanā 11.123 for the location of I'sana's Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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