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dant deities of Tirthankaras like 24 Sasanadevis and 24 Sasanayakṣas,* 9 Planetary deities (Nava Grahas), 10 Wardens of Directions (Dasa Dikpälas) and Warden of land (Kṣetrapala) and various Mantra-deities presiding over various Mantras, Miraculous works, Sutras§ and Stotras, deities presiding over Gacchas, Gotras, Kulas, villages, towns, forests etc. is to be similarly reconciled. Here is the explanation by Sri Yasodevasūri. He cites the following verse from Kalpa Bhāṣya, which says "All that is endowed with good characteristics or excellence is presided over by a deity and Sutra having been propounded by the omniscient is so endowed";+ and says that Sṛtadevata i. e. the deity presiding over the sacred literature therefore does exist. If it is urged that devotion to the sacred literature personified as a deity may be justified as such devotion is known to destroy the veil of one's, Karmas but not that of Sṛta-devatā, a deity merely of the Vyantara or similar class as she cannot be supposed to have power to destroy other's Karmas. The answer is "As the Dhyana of Sṛtadevata is said to destroy the Karmas (of the worshipper), to say that Sṛtade/ata does not exist or is incapable of doing anything is irreverence in reference to her."
INTRODUCTION
* In Senapraśna by Sri Vijayasenasūri, in answer to the question No. 16, it is said that worship of Ekākṣa Nälikera (a kind of cocoanut) like that of conch curved to the right for worldly benefit and prosperity is not considered want of faith i. e. a transgression of Samyakdarśana.
§ The Jains like others believe some gathās or verses of their Scriptures to be endowed with miraculous qualities. The first that may be mentioned is the benedictory verse of Candrapannatti sutra, and the next the benedictory verse of Daśavaikālikasutra. Uttaradhyayana has also a gatha considered to be so endowed. It is:
"चइत्ता भारहंवासं चक्कवट्टी महिडिओ |
संती संतिकरो लोए पत्तो गइमणुत्तरं ॥ १८ अध्ययन, श्लोक ३८
The hymns for daily recital also are supposed to have miraculous qualities and particular verses of some of them are considered to be especially miraculous. There are Mantra-Kalpas also in respect of some of these hymns.
+ सन्यं च लक्खणोवेयं समहिन्ति देवता ।
सुत्तं च लक्खणोदेयं जेण सब्वणुभासियं ॥
