Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

Page 200

JAIN MANTRAVADA AND CAITYAVASIS : ARYA KHAPUTACARYA
191
could be punished, if such an occasion arose. This must have given a great impetus to the practice of Mantras and acquisition of miraculous powers.
ĀRYA KHAPUTĀCĀRYA We see the same thing in the life of Vidyācakravarti * (Universal monarch of magical lores) Aryakhapuţācārya. He flourished about the same time but must have been a younger contemporary of Kālakācārya. He died about the 484th of the Vira era, and was a contemporary of Balamitra and Bhānumitra, Kings of Broach, who were the sons of the famous Kālakācārya's sister. As stated by the writer at page 11A of his introduction to Nirvāņakalikā, "about the time the Buddhists had great influence in various courts of India and controversies between Buddhists on one side and Jains on the other were very common. Aryakhapuțācārya and Upādhyāya Devendra (Mahendra) his pupil were Jain Sadhus well known for their learning and accomplishments in magical lores. One Buddhist from Gudaśastrapura, who was defeated by a Jain Sadhu in a controversy before the King of Broach, died and became a malevolent spirit and began troubling the Jains. The services of Aryakhaputācārya were requisitioned, and by his prowess he made the Buddhist Yaksa (spirit) do his bidding and follow him out of the town. The king was thus won over, and the spirit gave up harassing the Jains. Devendra (Mahendra) similarly punsihed the jealous Brahmins in the Court of King Dāhada at Pātliputra by twisting
* See Viśeşåvaśyakabháşya :
विजजाण चकवट्टी विज्जासिद्धो स जस्स वेगावि।
सिज्झिज्ज महाविज्जा विज्जासिद्धज्जखउडम्य ॥ ९३२॥ He who is accomplished even in one great Vidya like Vidyāsiddha Arya Khapuțācārya is one who is accomplished i. e. adept in Vidyas or the universal monarch of the magical lores. Similarly verses 933 and 934 ibid say that one who is accomplished in a principal Mantra or several or all Mantras is a Mantrasiddha like the Sadhu who drew away columns of a royal palace and one versed in important magical powders or applications is a Drvyasiddha like Arya Samiti, the maternal uncle of Sri Vajraswāmi, who divided the river Benā to cross over to the other shore.