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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
powers. 1 In spite of these injunctions, a study of the text clearly reveals as to how deeply such practices had affected the general life of the monks who aspired to acquire these powers not only for salvation but even for petty and trifle objects like procuring food, a healing diseases, to overpower the enemy,s to ward off evil spirits, and for innumerable other purposes which could be somehow or other helpful for the upkeep, integrity and stability of the Church. The examples of certain great Ācāryas like Ajja Vairasāmi,5 Ajja Khauda, 6 Siddhasenāyariya,” Kālagajja,Palittāyariya' and Sa aitāyariya lo cited in the NC. are memorable in this context.
Various terms like rddhi, laddhi, vijja, mamta, cunna and joya mentioned in the text denote these superhuman qualities. 11 The monk versed in the same was styled as ati saya-sahu, i. e. possessing superhuman qualities or powers. 12 Rddhi (iddhi) was a potentiality of the spiritually advanced souls which they acquired either by knowledge or by penance. The person possessing this power could assume any form of the body
1. facrisftaucitata ant for dent_NC. 3, p. 192. 2. NC. 1, p. 121. 3. NC. I, p. 65. 4. NC, 1, p. 163. 5. Ajja Vairasāmi is mentioned to have protected the Church by means
of Padavijjā during the great famine in Uttaräpatha.-NC. 1, p. 21. 6. las FEI 375TTICI_NC. 1, p. 22; NC. 3, p. 58. 7. Siddhascnāyariya is stated to have created magical horses by following
the instructions laid down in the Joni pāhuda, an important work on
magic-NC. 2, p. 281; Bih. Vr. 2, 2681. 8, NO. 3, P. 59. Kālagajja is mentioned to have been versed in Jotisa and
Nimitta ( astrology and science of prognostication ). 9. Pālittāyariya is described to have cured Murunda of his severe
headache with the power of manta-vijja--NC. 3, p. 423. 10. NO. 3, p. 425. 11. cat fasalu quotié ar att fara, fortid an-NC 2, p. 83; also NC. 2,
p. 183,
12. NO. 1, p. 163.
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