Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

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

Page 205

196
INTRODUCTION
10
led.
and the Acharya by giving them bath of Mântric-waters restored them to their original appearance. Then the Yogi made the columns and the seats in the temple quake and the Achārya stabilized them with his magical powers and brought down the cupola from the turret of the temple of Sambhu. Yaśobhadrasūri died in 971 Vikrama era according to Viravamśāvali but 1029 Vikrama era according to "Aitihāsika Rāsa Sangraha Part I". When his body was placed on the burning pyre the Yogi brought down rains to extinguish the fire and obtain the natural gem from the skull of the Achārya, but the rain was intercepted by a cover raised on the pyre and Badaridevi, who was angry at the hostility of the Yogi even to the dead Achārya, threw him on the burning pyre and he died.
Sri Kalyāņavijaya says at page 73 of his introducion to Prabhāvakacaritra that according to Pattávalis Caityavāsis arose in 882 Vira era, i. e. 412 Vikrama era but that really it is the date when they had gathered great strength and much power and influence and had outnumbered Sādaus who were observing strictly the rules of conduct laid down in the scriptures for them. He further says that according to statements in Bhāşyas and Cūrnis on Jain Sūtras Caityavāsis appear to have been in existence even before the said date. That the decadent times helped the growth of Caityavāsis would appear to be probable from the fact that according to Vincent Smith "The period between the extinction of the Kushān and Andhra dynasties about 220 or 230 A. D., and the rise of the imperial Gupta dynasty, nearly a century later, is one of the darkest in the whole range of Indian history." (P. 257 Early History of India).
ŚRI MĀNADEVASORI Sri Manadevasūri flourished from the end of the 2nd century to 261 Vikrama era. His grand preceptor Devasūri, before Achāryaship was conferred on him by Sarvadevasūri, was known as Upadhyāya Devachandra and managed the temple of Sri Mahāvīra at Koranțaka alias Korațā in Mārwar. This, if true, establishes the existence of