Ancient Jaina Hymns

Author(s): Charlotte Krause
Publisher: SCIndia Oriental Institute Ujain

Page 34

ANCIENT JAINA HYMNS (9) In the middle of those four shapes, a huge
Asoka tree is visible, overshadowing the
audience. (10) Wherever his foot treads, thorns turn their
spikes downward. (11) The trees salute him, as it were, bending
down towards him. (12) The sound of divine drums keeps accompany
ing his voice. (13) A pleasant breeze keeps blowing. (14) The birds fly around him in the auspicicus
direction. (15) Showers of fragrant water fall. (16) Divine flowers of ail the five colours fall in
showers and cover the ground knee-deep. (17) His hair and nails do not grow. (18) At least one krore of gods and genii are
always near him to serve him. (19) The weather is always pleasant.
All these "atisayas" are enumerated in the Munisuvrata-stavana (st. 8-13). Seven out of those mentioned under 16) and (c), viz., the Asoka tree, the flower-rain, the chowries, the throne, the halo, the divine drums, and the three parasols, with the addition of a further item, viz., divine music accompanying the Lord's voice (generally quoted as the third in stereotyped order), form the "eight pāờibera”, or "prātiharya". They are described in the VarakāņaPārsvanātha-stavana (st. 20 ff.) in detail. (1) Vido Pravac., Dvāra 440, p. 106.
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