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INTRODUCTION
(a member of the depressed class) and acquired from him by king Srenika. Commentary p. 58 Dasavaikālika Adh. I mentions invocation of a deity through Vidyā for inducement of faith in a pupil and commentary p. 40 mentions reaching destination over a long route quickly through Vidyā. The following v. 183 of Dasavaikälika-Niryukti (p. 101) mentions eight kinds of persons who through their respective qualities add to the glory of the Faith. They are (1) persons possessing supersensual knowledge (2) or Miraculous power 'Labdhi' (3) Acharyas (4) Dialecticians (5) Excellent exponents of religion (6) Ascetics performing severe austerities (7) Diviners (8) Persons accomplished in Vidya and persons respected by the Royalty or the people.
'अइसेस इडियायरिय वाइ धम्मकही खमग नेमित्ती। विज्जारायगणसंमया य तित्थं पभाविति ।।' १८३
'PRABHĂVAKAS We give below a verse usually cited to describe eight kinds of persons who add to the glory of the Jain faith.
"पावयणी १ धम्मकही २ वाई ३ नेमित्तिओ ४ तवस्सी व ५।
विज्जा ६ सिद्धो य ७ कई ८ अटेव पभावगा भणिया ।।" 'Eight kinds of persons are said to add to the glory of the Jain faith and they are (1) Exponent of religion (2) Exponent of religion through stories (3) Dialectician (4) Diviner (5) Ascetics performing severe austerities (6) Person accomplished in Vidyā (7) Person accomplished in Mantras, magical powders, root and herbs (8) and Poet.'
The readers would note that persons accomplished in Vidyās and Mantras are recognised as Prabhāvakas (adding to the glory) of the Religion. It would not have been so if Mantras and Vidyās were considered inherently sinful or if there was absolute prohibition against their employment. Avasyaka Sūtra and its Cūrni and Bșhat-tīkā by Sri Haribhadrasūri have numerous references to Mantras, Vidyās, Māntrikas, Vidyādharas, Siddhas and allied subjects. We would comment only on the important amongst them. The same remarks apply
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