Book Title: Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra
Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
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260
INTRODUCTION
verses in praise of Sarasvati instead. It is quite natural in his case as he is known to have been an Upāsaka of Sarasvati. Further instead of Vairotyā he praises Sri Padmavati which shows that worship of Padmavati was more common in his times. Sri Jinaprabhasūri also in his Caturvimsatistava (Kávyamalā Part VII p. 170) praises Sarasvati and Ambika. The same is the case with Caturvimsatistuti by Sri Dharmaghoṣasūri. In the numerous hymns composed in the intermediate period of 700 years between Sri Sobhanamuni and Sri Yasovijayaji Sarasvati appears to have been usually praised varied some times by the praise of Sāsandevis, but worship of Sarsvati and Ambikā seems to have been current uninterruptedly from the most ancient times to this day,
Referring to 'Aindrastuti' by Sri Yasovijayaji the prefernce of Sri Yašovijaya for praise of Sarasvati instead of Yakşas might be noted. The fact that the worship of Brahmasānti and Kapardiyakşa had gone out of vogue during the interval of 700 years between Sri Sobhana muni and Sri Yasovijaya might account for it. The available Mantric literature also confirms this inference, as it does not include Mantra Kalpas of these Yakşas. (In an unpublished list of manuscripts of the first and second Stambhas of Bhāțhajiki Kundi at Jeselmer dealing with Mantra Medicine and Astrology bearing No. 843 to No. 1004-a copy of which is with the writer-there is a Kapardiyaksārādhana-Kalpa being No. 877-7 leaves. But it is not available anywhere else).
VIDYĀDEVIS AND ORIGIN OF VIDYADHARAS As promised we shall now deal with the origin of Vidyadharas and worship of the Vidyādevīs. The oldest account as to the origin of Vidyādharas and worship of the Vidyādevis is found at pp. 163-164 Vasudevahīņdi of Sri Sanghadāsagani (circa 600 A. D.). A similar account is given at pp. 161-162 of Avasyaka Cūrņi as well as at pp. 143-144. of Sri Haribhadrasūri's commentary.
Briefly it says that in times of S'rī Rşabhadeva after he renounced the world and turned an ascetic, two princes named Nami and Vinami
