Attendant Devis of Jainas

Author(s): C L Prabhakar
Publisher: Z_Rajendrasuri_Janma_Sardh_Shatabdi_Granth_012039.pdf

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THE ATTENDANT DEVIS OF JINAS
(Inscribed to the sacred memory of Late Tumuluri Anjaneyulu)
Dr. C. L. Prabhakar
Sakalajinatishyah pavanebhyah namah sannayanavaradebhyah Sarvada Stutebhyah Samadhigatanugibhyo devavrndadgariyo nayanarava radebhyah Sarvadastu tebhyah-Caturvimsika.
Sl. 66
Among the stotras' of Jaina literature, Caturvi. msika," by Sobhanamuni, marks a significant stage of merit and distinction. Caturvimsika seems to be a type of Stotra composition, wherein praise and prayer for all the twenty four jinas of the religion is incorporated. This type has a set standard and Sobhanamuni attained a distinction for such a composition. Normally jinas are extrolled together
1. See "Jaina Stotra Sahity (Hindi)" by Vinaya
sagar, "Sardha satabhdhi Smrtigrantha",
Calcutta, 1965. 2. See QJMS, Vol. LXIII and LXIV, 1973,
Bangalore. Published with text and curika and introduction by Prof. S. K. Ramchandra
Rao, Bangalore. 3. (a) See QJMS Vol. LXIII. intr : by Prof. S.K.
Ramchandra Rao. (b) Also "A critical note on caturvimsatika
of Sobhana muni'', by Dr. C.L. Prabhakar
OJMS. No. 3,4 July-December, 1975. 4. Cf. Prof. S.K. De: "Aspects of Sanskrit
Literature" pp. 118.
with their attendant deities. Such type of storas Occupy an enviable place in the curriculam of worship by jains.
Sobhanamuni seems to have derived inspiration from the magnanimity and greatness attained by the respective jinas and he became poetic in order to re-emphasise their greatness together with the advantages that jainism promises to its followers. At 10th century his work should have inspired, several and turn to the worship of the Jinas Jainism, underwent several stages from time to time. Hereunder the mythological aspect of the Stotra is described.
Jainism takes a different phase of deities who are familiar even in Hinduism. Many times this jainism projects a view that Devis and other Galaxy of devas are not superior before Jinas. Jinas are the Supreme personalities who have gained control over the objects of the universe and the various regious of the worlds. 5. See "Jina puja ka mahatva" (Hindi) by
Mohanlal Parsan, in Smrti grantha, pp. 53;
as referred in ENI. 6. See "Vedism and Jainism”: Dr. C.L. Pra
bhakar "Pathway to God', Belgaum, 1976.
Rajendra-Jyoti
Jain Education Intemational