Ancient Jaina Hymns

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

Page 37

REMARKS ON THE TEXTS.
1. THE MUNISUVRATA-STAVANA.
As its name indicates, this hymn is addressed to Munisuvrata, the 20th of the 24 Tirthaikaras who appeared in this Bharataksetra of Jambu-dvīpa during the previous two "aras” of the present Avasarpiņi.
After announcing, in st. 1, his intention to sing the praise of Munisuvrata, and expressing, in st. 2, his incompetence to do justice to this task, the poet gives, in
st. 3-7, the data of the last nine existences, in which he · was incarnated respectively as :
(1) King Sivaketu of Supratiştha-nagara. (2) A god in "Saudharma" (the southern half of
the lowest heaven). (3) Kuberadatta of Varapura. (4) A god in the third heaven. (5) King Vajrakundala of Paurāņa-nagara. (6). A god in the fifth heaven. (7) King Śrīvarma of Campā. (8) A god in "Aparājita" (one of the five
"vimānas" of "Anuttara”, the highest heaven, the inhabitants of which are predestined to attain final salvation after, at the most, two more re-births).