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ECONOMIC, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS
The offering of corns made to the Jinas is called Balikamma (32.82) which was regularly performed by the devotees (7.157; 68.20; 108.19).
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The Aştähnikaparva1 (eight days festivity 22.74) was celebrated thrice a year in the months of Aṣadha (20.1) Kartika (89.30) and Falguna (66.14), beginning on the eighth day and ending on the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight. These festivities were celebrated with great pomp and show. Various kinds of decorations were made with flower garlands, cloth-paintings, flags, canopies, festoons, chowries, chatras (parasol) and mirrors (66.10, 12; 92.18, 21). Singing, playing of instrumental music and dancing accompanied the ceremony (32. 84; 92. 22; 78. 52). Chariot procession on the occasion of religious festivity is also referred to (8. 145).
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Pilgrimage to holy places such as Aṣṭāpada Kailaśa mountain (5. 169; 12. 36), Meru (14. 1), Vijayardhagiri (15. 31) and Sammetaśikhara (39. 63, 94. 27) have been mentioned.
The adoration and worship of the Maharsis (great sages) was also prevalent. The origin and the worship of the seven Ṛsis (sattarisï) have been described in the Paumacariyam. It is said that once the city of Mathura was attacked by an epidemic which was spread by Camara (a celestial lord 87. 12). On the arrival of the seven Caraṇa (89. 56) monks namely, Suramanna, Sirimanna, (89. 2) Sirinivaa, Savvasundara, Jayamanta, Anilalalia, and Jayamitta, the epidemic speedily subsided (89. 2). Then Satrughna, the ruler of Mathura (89. 34) paid his obeisance to them. Further by the advice of those munis he (89. 52) installed the images of those seven Ṛsis to bring about peace and prosperity in his country Thus the worship of the seven Ṛsis gained popularity.
The Saptarṣipūjā is still prevalent among the followers of Jainism. They are named as Śrīmanva, Svaramanva, Srīnicaya, Sarvasundara, Jayavan, Vinaylalasa and Jayamitra,2 These names generally agree with the PCV and the PCR.3
In the Brahmanical literature also a particular group of seven Rṣis has been mentioned. They are represented in the sky as the seven
1. It is called as Nandiśvaravaramahotsava (66.14) also. The celestial beings going to Nandiśvaradvipa to celebrate the astahnika-parva is also referred to (15.30; 66.17).
2. See Saccha Jinavani Sangraha, Kasturchand Chawada, p.352.
3. Suramanyu, Śrimanyu, Śrinicaya, Sarvasundara, Jayavan, Vinayalalasa and Jayamitra (PCR, 92.23).
