________________
PUSHPACHULIKA (Meaning with Commentary)
O Introduction:
There are ten chapters in this fourth section titled Pushpachulika. The central characters of these chapters are ten goddesses. They got initiated by Pushpachulika Aryaa during the period of influence of Purushadaniya ParshvaNaath. After getting initiated they neglected their spiritual grandeur by getting over indulgent in physical grandeur like apparels and other adornments of the body. In spite of the advise of their teacher they did not refrain from their anti-ascetic conduct. They also did not atone for these sinful acts committed by them by doing critical review (pratikraman). That was the reason they became transgressors of the ascetic conduct. Later, like Bahuputrika Devi, they came to Bhagavan in the Samavasaran (the divine assembly of a Tirthankar) and displayed their divine opulence. After this Bhagavan Mahavir told the stories of their past births to satisfy Gautam Swami's curiosity.
Central theme of these ten chapters is that ascetics who take vow of celibacy after renouncing mundane pleasures and comforts should not have so much fondness and involvement with the body that they spend all their time in its embellishment and neglect their primary duty of meditation, studies and pursuit of knowledge. The feeling of attachment for body and involvement in its embellishment is termed as `bakushika' here. The meaning of this term is—the attitude that spoils ascetic-discipline.
Another message is that one should essentially atone for the faults and transgressions in observing ascetic-discipline committed due to stupor or mundane attachments. One who does not atone for his faults becomes transgressor of the ascetic discipline and conduct. As a consequence he does not get reincarnated in the expected higher divine realm after death. These stories also inform us about how liberal and open-minded was Bhagavan Parshva Nath, the epitome of compassion. By inspiring spinsters of advanced age, leading a neglectful and wretched life, to take to the spiritual path he provided them a place of honour and respect in the society. All these chapters have almost the same story line.
0 -X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X- 0 [1] Meaning- Jambu Swami asked- "Bhante! When aforesaid is the text and meaning of the third section of the Upanga named Pushpika as given by Shraman Bhagavan Mahavir, who has attained nirvana, what is the text and meaning of the fourth section of the Upanga named Pushpachulika ?"
"Jambu! Shraman Bhagavan Mahavir, who attained nirvana, has preached ten chapters of Pushpachulika, fourth Upanga. They are
[2] Meaning- (1) Shridevi,(2) Hridevi,(3) Dhritidevi,(4Kirtidevi,(5) Buddhidevi,(6) Lakshmidevi,(7) lladevi,(8) Suradevi,(9) Rasadevi, and (10) Gandha devi.
[3] Meaning- Jambu- "Bhante ! If there are ten chapters in Pushpachulika, the fourth Upanga, as given by Shraman Bhagavan Mahavir, what is the text and meaning of its first chapter ?"
Sudharma Swami replied to Jambu Anagaar as follows:- Jambu ! During that period of time there was a city called 'Rajagriha', where there was a chaitya called -
Aagam -22 - Pushpachulika
Compiled by - Deepratnasagar
[4]
