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JAIN MANTRAVADA AND CAITYAVASIS ANGAVIDYA
ANGAVIDYA
We have referred above to Aṣṭanaganimitta the eight-fold science of divination. One of its eight divisions is 'Anga' or Body. It means principally divination from throbbings in or touching the various parts of the body. The work which dealt with this part of Nimitta called Angavidya is available. It contains several Vidyas, most of which resemble the famous Vardhamānavidya which is said to have been separated from Gaṇabhṛd Vidya alias Sūrimantra i. e. Vidya of Gaṇadhara or Mantra of Acharya. Some Vidyas resemble the Surimantra also. We shall have occasion to deal with the latter at some length later on. A few Vidyas are selected and given verbatim in the Appendix A. From its language Angavijjā seems to be a very old work.* One can see from the Vidyas cited that both Vardhamānavidya and Ganabhṛd Vidya alias Sūrimantra also must be very old. The five Parameṣṭipadas may be noted in the beginning of Vidyas 1 to 3 and two at the beginning of Vidyas 4 to 6 set forth in the said Appendix A. They show the existence of Pancaparameşti Mantra or Vidya in olden times.
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PANCAPARAMEŞTI MANTRA
We think we should here explain that the Pancaparmeṣṭi Mantra contains obeisance to each of the five classes of revered persons: Arihantas, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas and Sadhus and the 'Falaśruti' i. e. narration of the fruit of such obeisance. It is said to be the destroyer of all sins and the chief Mangala or auspicious thing.
The greatest sanctity is attached to this Mantra. It is considered to be the essence of the fourteen Pūrvas and capable of giving worldly happiness as also ultimate salvation. It may be fitly called the Jain Gayatri and is meant to be daily recited morning and evening as also in all religious ceremonies and Pūjā or worship. It is
* Värähi Samhită of Varahamihira Adh. 51 deals with Angavijja which is a method of answering questions relating to future or unknown matters by the gestures and position of the questioner and the words comprised in his question.
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