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394
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
sound of divine drums and hailing words of Devas (4. 12-14).1 These are called Aścaryas2 also.
Samavasarņa:-When a Tirthankara after having attained omniscience delivers a Sermon, a divine assembly hall (Samosarana) is erected by the Devas. His religious discourse is listened to by the gods, monks, human beings and animals all alike. The PCV (2. 47f) further gives the details of the assembly hall with its three ramparts, big gates (Gopuras) banners etc. At every entrance eight dance-dramas (atthaṭṭhanadayaim) are performed. The Tirthankara seated in the centre is attended by some Pratihāryas (see infra). The twelve divisions of the hall (aha? daha? doņņi ya vakkhārā) are occupied by the monks, nuns, goddesses, gods, nobles, men, women and even animals. This description of the Samosarana can be corroborated by other works with certain details and minor differences. The TSP mentions three ramparts, but the TP (4. 733) and the AP (22. 81 f) refer to one more rampart which is made of mud (dhūlisala). Both these works mentions dance and music performances, not dramas.
Atisayas and Pratihāryas:-The PCV further associates 34 Atisayas and 8 Pratihāryas (cottisaṁ ca aisaya aṭṭhamahāpaḍihera ya 5. 60) with the Tirthankaras. The eight Pratihāryas which appear when a Tīrthankara attains omniscience are:-a divine throne, a parasol, a high parosal, a chowry, a halo of light, a sacred tree, the sound of divine drum and the shower of flowers (Uppannammi ya nāņe uppajjai asanam jipindassa/Chattaichattacāmara taheva bhāmaṇḍalam vimalaṁ// Kappaddumo ya divvo dunduhighosam ca pupphavarisam ca 4. 18-19). The PCR refers categorically to 34 Atiśayas and eight Pratihāryas at 5. 72, but at 4. 23-29 it enumerates only seven Pratihāryas by omitting 'atichatra'. Further in place of 'chatra' it mentions 'chatratrayam' i. e. three umbrellas, The 'atichatra' is not mentioned in the Samavayanga, the TP5 and the AC6. The Samavayanga mentions one umbrella (āgāsagayaṁ chattam), but the TP and the AC mention three (chatra trayam). The PCR (4. 27) mentions two chowries, while the TP mentions 64 chowries. The Samavayanga and the AC refer to the chowry in plural. Further the TP mentions the Ganas attending upon the
1. TP, 4. 672-674; AP, 20, 102-105; TS, P. I, p. 181.
2. UP, 48. 41.
3. TP, 4. 710-895; AP, 22 & 33. 72-112; TSP, I. p. 190-193.
4. Su. 34.
5. 4. 915-927.
6. Abhidhanacintamanikoşa by Hemacandra (1-57-64). In the VH, (I. p. 5) there is a reference to 'chattaich atta'.
