An Investigation Of Textual Sources On Samavasarana

Author(s): Nalini Balbir
Publisher: Nalini Balbir

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NALINI BALBIR
AN INVESTIGATION OF TEXTUAL SOURCES ON THE SAMAVASARANA
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canda is a reminiscence of vs. Il of the tract, as well as the compound kaya.. kicco vi ("though he has attained the goal"), on which see above 1.4.3. The specific mention of Sakra and Isäna as responsible for the making of the asoka-tree and the three umbrellas remind us of the Av.-cúrni (see above 1.4.1).
-Hemacandra, Parisistaparvan (12th cent.): Sanskrit: anuştubh; 1.29-45: Mahavi
ra's samavasarana. No mention of beings other than the Jina and the king. -Bhavadevasüri, Parsvanathacarita (13th cent.) 6.222-259: Sanskrit; anustubh (see
below 2.2.2). - Dhanesvara, Satrunjayamahatmya (14th cent.) 1.174-221: Sanskrit; anustubh; R$a
bha's samavasarana. Information about the construction of the sacred space (racana), including measurements and ornamentation; traditional data about the
entrance and location of the audience. - Vinayacandrasūri, Mallinäthacarita (15th cent.) 5.293-323: Sanskrit; anustubh (sce
below 2.2.2).
where the following beings take their places in succession: male members of the religious community, Kalpavāsin-goddesses, nuns, Jyotiska goddesses, Vyantara-goddesses, Bhavanavasin-goddesses, Jyotiska-gods, Vyantara-gods, Bhavanavasin-gods, Kalpavasin-gods, men, animals; description of the central
area with the Jina and the eight marvels. - Muni Nayanandi (11th cent.), Sudamsanacariu 1.8-9 and Padmakirti (11th cent.?).
Pāsanāhacariu 15.7-8: Apabhramsa: no remarkable feature. - Raidhū (15th cent.), Sammaijinacariu 6.9-10: Apabhramsa; indication about the
main architectural components (staircases, dhúlišala-pavillon, manastambha.s, gardens, wells, small temples); description of the central area and details about
the location of the audience similar to Jambúsámicariu (above). - Pasaņāhacariu 4.15-16: Apabhrama; noteworthy is the clear mention of the
three walls and the areas they define.
Digambara tradition: The oldest, most detailed and important accounts of this class are: - Ravişeņa (7th cent.), Padmacarita 2.135-154; 4.23ff.
- Jinasena (8th cent.), Adipurana 22.76-312: Sanskrit; mainly anustubh; refer to the
detailed account given in U.P. Shah, Studies in Jaina Art, p. 89-93; sum
marized in U.P. Shah, Jaina-rüpa-mandana, p. 24-25. - Jinasena (8th cent.), Harivamsapurana, chap. 57 (182 vs.): Sanskrit: anustubh;
the samavasarana-area is said to be a square (57.6). - For Tamil Puranas and a complete description of the Digambara samavasarana,
see T.N. Ramachandran, Tinuparuttikunram and its Temples, p. 104-116.
2.1.2. Works on cosmology The inclusion of a samavasarana-passage in works of this category is not systematic. It is to be expected only where cosmology as such (description of the three worlds) is discussed in the frame of "Universal History", viz. if the career of a Jina (usually Rşabha) is narrated. This means that this category is contextually very close to the preceding. However, the care it takes in giving precise measures makes it globally different when viewed from its contents.
Digambara tradition: Trilokaprajnapti 4.710-894: Jaina Sauraseni Prakrit. A systematic general description of samavasarana in 31 points (summarized analysis and drawings in Jainendrasiddhantakosa vol. 4 s.v. samavasarana, p. 334-335). Measurements are given for each element. They are different depending on the Jina concerned, and decrease from Rşabha to Mahavira. Svetambara tradition: Vinayavijaya, Lokaprakása 30.530-655. This late Sanskrit work (17th cent.) presents an inflated account of the samavasarana and integrates almost all the earlier material, sometimes in the form of quota
Shorter and selective accounts are, for instance: - Asaga (10th cent.), Santināthapurana 15.38-50: Sanskrit; anusfubh. - Virakavi (11th cent.), Jambūsāmicariu 1.15-17: Apabhrama; very sober and clear
description of the twelve compartments (baraha korha) around the centre
I have had no access to the Samavasarana-darpana which forms the beginning of Medhāvin's Dharmasamgraha-Sravakácara (15th cent.), mentioned, for instance, in W. Schubring. Die Lehre der Jainas. Berlin-Leipzig 1935 1910 and R. Williams, Jaina Yoga. London 1963 (reprint Delhi 1983) p. 30.