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Sects of the Jaina Purānakāras--Cartas and Puranas
191
Srda
Besides acknowledging the existence of eleven Rudras26 with malign character, the works in question also refer to Sida with all his traditional tmblems and associates. But, as is natural, the Puranas do not subscribe to his representation as the great God First, we meet with a myth incorporated in the Uttarapuranas? as a part of the biography of Lord Mahāvīra Here it is alleged that Sthanu,28 with a host of imps, goblins and spirits of abnormal shapes and dreadful appearances appears before Lord Mahādrra engaged in deep meditation in a crematorium of Ujjayıní And with an intention to disturb the Jına, he creates a vast army of mountaineers (Kırātas2) and accompanied by these as well as fierce serpents, elephants, lions, fires and wind --all engaged in terrible dances, roars and loud laughters--he tries to shake the Jina from fortitude But finding himself quite unable to deflect the Master from his uncommon composure, the malevolent god gives up his evil intention. And together with wife Umā, he dances before the Jina and then leaves the place with all praises for the Lord It is obvious that most of the traditional connections of Lord Siva have been made use of in the present story
Further, in a passage of the Mahāpuräna a warrior pierced through his head with a crescent-shaped weapon is looked upon
26 These Rudras arc (1) Bhimāsali, (u) Jilasatru, (111) Rudra, (iv) Visvānala,
(v) Suprotisphaka, (v1) Acala, (v11) Pundarika, (v111) Agitandhora, (1x) Ajitanabhika, (x) Pilha and (xi) Satyakısuta — JHV, 60 531-86, SPC also recognizes elcyen Rudras referring to them by the name Hara (Hara cyārtha, 6 9 9b) The names as given in thc Mahābhārala are Megavyadho, Sarpa, Nort, Ajalkapad, Ahırbudhnya, Penākın, Dahana, I'svara, Kapālın, Sthānu and Bhaga.-MB, 168,1b-3, 1122 68-69 Althougb
the names vary, yet the number is remarkably the same 27 74 331-337 28 A popular dame of Lord Siva MBh 1 210 24-28, 3 38 3,3 125 14 29 It is reminiscent of the Mahabhārata episode of god Siva and Arjuna,
in which the former in the form of a mountaineer and accompanied by a troop of Kırātas, 13 said to have opposed the latter to test his prowess MBh 3 39 1-5f For the strange elements scc, for instance, Rāmā 6 69.9, 28-24, 6 71.13.
