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ANTIQUITY OF JAIN MANTRAS:ANTIQUITY OF PANCAPARAMESTI MANTRA 289
Sun and the Vaimānika Indras Sakra and Iśāna were disciples of Sri Pārsvanātha in their previous life. Naturally, therefore, when invocation is with the name of Sri Pārsvanātha these highly placed powerful deities respond promptly and effectively aid and grant the desires of such worshippers. This also accounts for the popularity of the worship of Dharanendra and Padmāvati amongst Jains as they are the principal attendant deities of Sri Pārsvanātha. We may add here that Sri Pārsvanātha is worshipped at various places under hundreds of different attributes. Some of them are mentioned at p. 86 Vividhatīrthakalpa, line 10 onwards. The several Kalpas of Sri Pārsvanātha included in Vividhatirthakalpa also show the popularity of his worship. The connection of Sri Pārsvanātha with the ancient Jain Stüpa at Mathura also points to the same fact.*
It is significant that Mānadevasūri, the author of the hymn Laghusānti, although invoking Sri Sāntinātha, the sixteenth Tirthankara, for securing peace and tranquility incorporates therein the Mantra of Sri Pārsvanātha as propounded by Kamatha (an attendant deity of Sri Pārsvanātha) called Mantradhirāja. Similarly Vādivetāla Sri Sāntisūri in his hymn named Bșhat Sānti invokes Sri Pārsvanatha thus: 9 FIIET I Fargil itardaigh aige li' Similarly in Indranandi's Jvālinīmata (Mantra Kalpa of the attendant deity of the 8th Tirthan. kara Sri Candraprabha), III Adh., vv. 58, 59 it is stated that whatever a Mantrika does, should be in the name of 'Pārsva Jina' and that whatever he utters saying 'Pārsva Jināya' becomes Mantra. This shows with what great regard Mantrikas viewed invocation with the name of 'Sri Pārsva'. It is therefore unnecessary to dilate further on this point.
ANTIQUITY OF PAŅCAPARAMESTI MANTRA We shall note below some inscriptional proof as to the antiquity
* Epigraphia Indica II, Insı. XXIX p. 207 is an inscription on the image of Sri Päráva as is actually mentioned therein. It is a proof of the ancient and popular character of the worship of Sri Pārsva.
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