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ANTIQUITY OF JAIN MANTRAS : POPULAR JAIN DEITIES
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are independent and not merely as attendant deities. They, therefore, prove independent ancient worship of Sarasvati and Ambikā.
POPULAR JAIN DEITIES There is mention of both Sarasvati and Ambika in Nirvāņakalikā but not Kuberā. Subsequent works on installation ceremonies dealing with Santika vidhi-Propitiatory rites include special verses in praise of Kuberā the deity presiding over the Jain Stūpa at Mathurā and Acchuptā (a Vidyādevi, see p. 38 Nirvāņa Kalikā) besides the popular Sāsandevatās + viz. Apraticakrā, Padmavati, Ambika and Siddhāyikā. Sri Jinaprabhasūri gives these verses in Nandirayaņavihi, Vidhiprapā p. 30. As in Mahānisītha Sūtra Srutadevatā or Sarasvati, Amrakuşmāņdi, Acchuptā and Indrāņi are mentioned as standards of comparison they appear to be very popular from ancient times. The reason of the popularity of the four deities mentioned above is probably that Apraticakrā, Padmāvati, Ambikā and Siddhāyikā are respectively the deities presiding over the famous Tirthas Satruñjaya, Sammetasikhara alias Pārsvanātha hills, Girnār and Pāvāpuri-Vaibhāra hills. As the Jains gradually moved to Western India Girnār and Ambikā gained in importance. Satruñjaya in ancient times had fallen
+ According to Rūpamandana images of Sri Adinatha, Sri Nemináth, Sri Pārsvanātha and Sri Mahāvīra are endowed with miraculous qualities as also image of Sri Cakre. śvari, Sri Ambika, Sri Padmăvati and Sri Siddhāyikā and are especially worshipped:
"Fart nazistrat: qfrar: gaf: aleger: 1 चतस्रोऽतिशयैर्युक्तास्तासां पूज्या विशेषतः ॥२५॥ श्री आदिनाथो नेमिश्च पाश्वों वीरचतुर्थकः ।
चक्रेश्चर्यम्बिका पद्मावती सिद्धायिकेति च ॥२६॥" रूपमंडन अध्याय ६, पृ. ४५. x “सेणंपूज्जा xxx सेणं सुयदेवया (सेणं सरस्सई] सेणं अंबाहुंडी सेणं अच्छुत्ता सेणं इन्दाणी।" Adh. II Uddeśa 8, Mahāniśitha; (Ms. p. II A) see also the following in PancaKalpabhăşya, 5th Kalpa where Kusmåņdi alias Ambikā is invoked along with Sarasvati for obtaining learning:
"सम्बसूयसमूहमती वामकरे गहियपोत्थिया देवी । जक्खकुहुंडीसहिया देंतु अविग्धं मम नाणम् ॥
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