An Investigation Of Textual Sources On Samavasarana

Author(s): Nalini Balbir
Publisher: Nalini Balbir

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NALINI BALBIR
tions (especially from Avasyakaniryukti, and Dharmaghosasuri's Samavasara nastotra, on which see below 2.1.5).
2.1.3. Modus operandi for the construction of a samavasarana-structure
In the sections they devote to Jaina architecture and iconography, some of the vastusastra.s written in western India by the architects (Somapura or Sutradhara) of the Middle Ages (11th-15th cent.) include prescriptions on building the independent samavasaraṇa-structure found in the temples, usually "in front of the Jina's image". References can be collected from the brief survey published by Prabhashankar O. Sompura and M.A. Dhaky, "The Jaina Architecture and Iconography in the Vastusăstras"." I have had access only to the Diparnava, a late compilation, whose 25th section deals with samavasarana. The first part gives instructions for the building of the different components making the three-dimensional structure called "Meru-samavasarana", along with their measurements. The vocabulary used betrays Hindu influences (cf. Kailasa, sadasiva). The second part of the chapter (vss. 43-55) is a general account of what a samavasarana is.
2.1.4. Inscriptions and allied literature
Occasionally, inscriptions record the installation of a samavasarana vertical stone structure inside a temple. The most famous is the one found in the Vimalavasahi temple at Mount Abu:"
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sam. 1212 (= 1155 A.D.) Jyestha-vadi 8 Bhome śri-Korana-gacche śri-Nannācāryasantane śri-Osavamse mantri-Dhadhukena śri-Vimala-mantri-hastiśälāyām śriAdinatha-samavasaraṇam karayam cakre; śri-Nannasüri-patte śri-Kakkasuribhiḥ pratisthitam. Velapalli vastavуena."
Published in U.P. Shah - M.A. Dhaky, Aspects of Jaina Art and Architecture. Ahmedabad 1975, p. 13-19. The works in question are the Västusästra of Viśvakarman (11th cent.), the Västuvidya (12th cent.), the Präsädamandana of Sutradhara Mandana (15th cent.) and the Vṛkṣarnava (15th cent.).
"Photograph in D.R. Bhandarkar, "Jaina Iconography. II. Samavasarana", Indian Antiquary 40 (1911) Fig. 1; Muni Shri Jayantavijayaji, Holy Abu. Bhavnagar 1954, Fig. 21; U.P. Shah, Jainarupa-mandana, Fig. 182 (Plate XCIV); etc.
"Muniraj shri Jayantavijaya, fri Arbuda pracin Jain lekhasandoha, vol. 2. Ujjain vikram sam. 1994, No. 229 Jinavijaya, Prácin Jain Lekhasamgraha, vol. 2. Bhavnagar 1921, No. 248.
AN INVESTIGATION OF TEXTUAL SOURCES ON THE SAMAVASARANA
A similar inscription, dated sam. 1536 (= 1479 A.D.), is found in the cella of the Rṣabha temple in Jaisalmer:
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[names of the donor and his family-members]... śri samavasarana (m) kāritam pratisthitam Sri-Kharatara-gacche... Sri-Jinabhadrasûri-page śri-Jinacandrasuribhiḥ Sri-Jinasamudrasuri-pramukha-sahitaiḥ ..."
Two inscribed bronzes depicting samavasarana have been treated by U.P. Shah: the Cambay bronze is dated sam. 1252 = 1195 A.D.; the Sirohi / Surat bronze is dated sam. 111x (circa 1053-1062 A.D.)."
Confirming evidence is available from the semi-historical works of the 13th-14th centuries: see, for instance, the Kharataragaccha-bṛhadgurvavali about the installation of two original (mula) samavasarana-models in sam. 1379 (= 1322 A.D.) at Satrunjaya, and about another one installed in Pățan two years later. The prabandha.s mention the number of samavasarana.s sponsored by the famous persons they eulogize among their religious deeds. Thus the minister Vastupala is credited with 505 samavasarana.s on cloth."
2.1.5. Hymns
The catalogues of manuscripts abound in works named samavasaraṇa-stava, stotra and the like, popular among both sects of the Jainas.
One Svetambara work is Dharmaghosa's Samavasarana-stava (13th cent.), short hymn in Prakrit (24 vss.) accompanied by a useful detailed Sanskrit commen
*Ed. in A. Nahta - Bh. Nahta, Bikaner Jain Lekhasamgraha. Calcutta virăbda 2482, No. 2810 p. 397. An independent samavasarana-stone structure (without inscription) is found in the Mahavira temple of Kumbharia; the structure found in the Santinätha-temple, wrongly named samavasarana by some, in fact represents the Aştăpada, as is clear from the accompanying inscription (dated samp
1266).
"Jaina Bronzes from Cambay", Lalit Kald 13 [1967] p. 31-32. A photograph of the Sirohi Surat bronze is also published in U.P. Shah, Studies in Jaina Art, Fig. 76. For anothe samavasaraṇa-bronze, dated sam. 1534 (= 1477 A.D.), see U.P. Shah, Treasures of Jaim Bhandaras. Ahmedabad 1978, Fig. 170 and p. 97.
Ed. Jinavijaya Muni. Bombay 1956 (Singhi Jain Series 42): 71.17; 77.20.
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505 samavasaraṇāni paṭṭasūtramayani, Püratanaprabandhasamgraha 65.24. Instead partasura the corresponding passage of the Prabandhakosa (129.18 132.10) uses the worl jādara (maya), "a type of white silk" (B.J. Sandesara - J.P. Thaker, Lexicographical Studies in Jain Sanskrit. Baroda 1962, p. 64).