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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
317
Various other feats of magic are to be found in the Niryuktis also. We come across a certain Sangamasūri who could spread light from his finger in order to show the entrance of the lodge to his disciples.567 The story of Padaliptasuri who cured the headache of king Murunda is too well-known to be given here.568
The same text refers to an interesting story of two novices who, by applying collyrium to their eyes, made themselves invisible and took away royal food of king Candragupta for their emaciated guru. Cāņakya, coming to know of it, spread small needles to detect their path and creating smoke by which the collyrium from their eyes was washed out caught hold of the monks. They were, however, let loose afterwards.569
Besides these, a number of other spells called 'moriya' (peacock-spell), 'naüli' (mungoose-spell), 'birāli' (cat-spell), 'vagghi' (tiger-spell), 'sihi (lion-spell) and 'ulugi (owl-spell) were used by monks.570
The astrological element seems to have come to prominence in the Prakirņakas which are texts of comparatively later date. The following superstitious and astronomical details regarding the various items of monk life are given in the Ganividyāprakirnaka : 571 Church Affairs : (a) Renunciation .. Proper days : Pratipadā, pañcami,
daśami, pūrņimā and
ekādasi. Proper tithis: Nandā Jayā and Pūrņā. Proper Nakşatras: Uttarā, Uttarāşādhā,
Uttarābhādrapadā,
Rohiņi. (b) Bodily decoration before renunciation
Proper tithis: Nandā and Bhadrā. (c) Fasting before renunciation
Proper tithis:
Pūrņā. (d) Tonsure
Proper Nakşatras : Punarvasu, Puşya,
Śravas, Dhanişthā. Improper Nakşatras: Krtţikā, Maghā,
Viśākhā, Bharani
567. Pinda-N. 427. 568. Ibid., 497ff. 569. Ibid., 500. 570. Uttar-N. 174. 571. Vs. 3-79.
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