________________
314
A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
by means of a power ( vijja ) or by other means and was practised for the purpose of fascination or cunjuration ( vašīkarana ), to end or generate enmity (viddesana ), to cause annihilation or destruction (ucchādana ), to walk over the surface of water by applying it to the feet ( padaleva ), to make a person invisible ( antaddhana ) by applying the collyrium to the eyes ( amjanajoga ) and for various other purposes. The Kulapati of Bambhadiva is mentioned to have walked on the surface of water by applying padaleva to the feet, while two Khuddagas or Jaina monks are described to have eaten the food of king Candragupta Maurya by making themselves invisible (antaddhana ) with the help of the anjanajoga during the great famine which broke during his reign.:
Severe penances were required for acquiring these powers or vijjas. Some of the vijjas could be acquired only in a desert or dreary place like the burial ground or a cemetery and on a prescribed day like cautthi ( 4th day ), atthami ( 8th day ) or cauddasī ( 14th day) of the month. These powers could be lost on uttering a falsehood. The trident (tidan la) of a Parivrājaka, which was hanging up in the sky without any support, is mentioned to have fallen down the moment he uttered a lie regarding his preceptor from whom he had acquired this spell.6 The monk is exhorted to use vijja, mamta or cuņņa only as last resorts for warding off evil, and is advised to settle any dispute by means of anusatthi ( lecture ), dhammakaha (religious teaching ) or bheşana (threat )." However, constant references to these spells and powers in the text clearly reveal that the last and ultimate resort for acquiring
1. qattilag Foldura TaeTT ETT a gastar--NC. 3, p. 385. 2. NC. 3, pp. 425–26. 3. NC. 3, pp. 423–24. 4. 5TEETÍÐ ATE HAD_NC. 1, p. 16. 5. NC. 1, p. 16. 6. NC. 1, p. 12. 7. NC. 2, p. 181.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
