Jain Journal 2007 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 21

66
JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XLII, NO.2 OCTOBER. 2007
This symbolises the favour of Lord Mahāvīra through whose grace the devotee (bhavyajana) gets piety, fame, influence, greatness, prosperity, learning, peace and fulfilment of all desires. The Vardhamana Samputa, therefore, is the embodiment of all the boons conferable by the Lord Himself.24
The full Jar (purņa Kalasa) which forms the fourth symbol in the Aṣṭamangalika group symbolises the facts of the Lord being the fulfiller of all wants in the three worlds. This symbol of a pūrṇa kalasa is common to Hinduism as well. That the Lord here is identified with the Kalasa is quite clear from the representation of the kalasa which is attributed, in anthropomorphic analogy, with a pair of eyes. According to Jaina conception, the Lord Jina (Tīrthankara) is said to flourish in all his aspects and with all glory in the three worlds like a full Jar distributing favour and blessings all around. Indeed, the Kalasa that we regard as symbolic of all fulfilment, originated from the ocean in course of the "Great Churning" and contained all the divinities. The Kumbha, therefore, is co-eval with the Highest Divinities we can conceive of and has an origin as sacred and ancient
24. punyam yaśaḥ samdayah prabhuta mahatvam, sanbhagyadhī vinayaśarma manorathassa // vardhanta eva Jinanayaka te prasädät / tad Vardhamanayuga sampuṭamādadhānaḥ // Acāradinakara, loc. cit.
In fact, Lord does not confer any boons on anybody as He is beyond desires. But since by worshipping the Lord, the devotee relates and realises the characteristics of his own soul, he acquires punaya, which awards him good fortune, the Lord is said, being an indirect cause, to confer that fortune on the devotee, though he gains it by his own good efforts. -- Ed. 25. Viśvatraya ca svakulo Jineso vyakhyāte śrīkalasayamanaḥ -- Atotra pūrṇam
kalaśam likhitvā Jinārcanākarmakṛtārthayamaḥ -- Ibid.
26. deva-dānava samvado mathyamāne mahodadhau / utpanno si anahā-kumbhaṁ Viṣṇunā vidhṛkaraḥ // tat to'ye sarvadevaḥ syuḥ sarvadevā samastrità/ tvayi tiṣṭhanti bhūtāni tvayi prāṇaḥ pratisthitaḥ// śivatvam ca gavaśitvam viṣṇutvaṁca prajapatiḥ / Adityadaḥ grahah sarve viśva devāḥ sapitrkāḥ// tvayi tisthanti kalasa yaṭaḥ kāmaphalapradāḥ / tvat prasādād imam yajñaṁ kartuñiho jalodbhavam // tvadātokanmatrena bhukti-muktiphalani mahat / sannidhyam kuru me kumbha prasanno bhava sarvadā // ms in author's own collection p.
7.