Book Title: Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra
Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
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188
INTRODUCTION
Nimitta * ) and Pārsvāpatyas above described. As practice of Mantras and Vidyās required certain facilities for Sadhanā, so they took their clue from Pārsvāpatyas. It would appear that as Sri Pārsvanātha was especially worshipped by Pārsvāpatyas he came to be the Māntric deity par excellence of Jain Māntrikas,
As the Sadhus became more and more associated with temples, they naturally took part in the rites and ceremonies relating thereto as also in the installation ceremonies in performing which Mantras are usually recited. Taking part in such rites accompanied by Mäntric recital, in the eye of the public, they came to be considered masters of magical lores. As men of the world wished for health, wealth and happiness, the aid of such Sadhus must have been freely sought but restrictedly given. Various facts which appear to have contributed to the development of Caityavāsa and its lax practices can be easily gathered from the biographies of some of the prominent Acharyas of olden times.
We have noted above at pp. 174-175 how, the pupils of Aryasuhasti, Srī Susthita and Sri Supratibuddha came to be known as Kauţika and Mantravāda gained impetus with them. Arya Rohana was also a pupil of Arya Suhasti and was a Mantra-siddha as shown below, Next came Priyagranthisūri whose Māntric achievements are described at P. 174 supra. Vidyadhara Gopala and other Mantrasiddhas, who flourished about this time, we have already mentioned above.
All of them were famous as Mantravādis and Mantravāda was one of the chief factors that helped the progress of Caityavāsa. Another factor was the establishment of contact with kings and through them realization of the ambition to spread Jainism. The effect was that the contact of Achāryas with the rulers of the land culminated
* See Sambodha-prakarana p. 13 v. 16.
कोउयभूईकम्मे पसिणापसिणे निमित्तमाजीची। करकरुयाइ लक्खणमुवजीवइ विज्जमंताई ॥ १६ ॥
