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JAIN MANTRAVADA AND CAITYAVASIS SURIMANTRA
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s. y. 261) as is known to us today. It proves the authenticity of the Mantric tradition.
According to a tradition contained in Sūrimantrakalpas including Mantrarajarahasya by Sri Simhatilakasuri Sūrimantra is connected with the first Lord Sri Ṛṣabhadeva also and it was in his time that Brahmi became the deity presiding over the first Pitha known as Vidyāpīṭha out of the 5 Pithas of Sūrimantra. The fact that the 2nd Pitha has Bahubalividya included in it testifies to the tradition being correct, Bahubali being the son and disciple of the first Lord, who ultimately became a Siddha. According to the said Mantrarājarahasya 1000 Vidyas* are comprised in the first Pitha; 20 Vidyas being comprised in each of the 50 Labdhipadas forming the first Pitha. It is stated there that by contemplation of those who are possessed of Labdhis (i. e. Miraculous powers of the soul) Vidyas are acquired by the worshipper. 1000 Mantras are stated to have been included in Mantrarāja Pitha and on attaining success by contemplation of the said Pitha 1000 Mantras automatically become Siddha i. e. accomplishment is acquired in respect thereof. The said Mantrarājarahasya with its commentary Lilavatī is a collection of Sūrimantrakalpas belonging to different gacchas and as such furnishes us the different versions+ of Sūrimantra in a single work. In the 50th verse of the said * The number of Vidyas being 1000 can be seen from Aṣṭapadagiri-Kalpa, p. 93 Vividha Tirtha Kalpa, where Ravana is said to remember 1000 Vidyas before he lifted up Astāpada mountain " विज्जा सहस्सं सुमरित्ता उप्पाडीओ गिरी ।" That the small Vidyās are 700 in number can be seen from the following: "Hagefe agafarà" at p. 19, Section dealing with Manträmnåyas of Sri Namaskara Mahamantra in the work entitled "Mahaprabhāvika Navasmarana", by the present publisher. See also 'Vidyanusasana' by Śri Mallişenasuri Ch. III, VV.18-19. There the Mahavidyās like Rohini and others are said to be five hundred and the 'Angusthadi' small Vidyas are said to by seven hundred by Sri Mallişenasūri.
+ The variations chiefly relate to the 1st and the 5th Pitha. In the former by inclusion of a lesser or greater number of 'Stuti-padas' or 'Labdhipadas' the Vidya evolved is of 13, 16, 24, 31, 32 or 39 padas and in the latter the number of Merus being differently taken to be 5, 6, 7 or 13 causes the variation.
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