Jain Journal 2012 07

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

Page 39

JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XLVII, NO. 1-IV JULY.- JUNE 12-13
Bhagwan Neminath was born as a God in Aparājit Vimāna and later born as son of Sivādevi.
The Trisasthiếalaka Purushacharita' gives a description of a Vimana in which Prahasit and Pavanañjai flew to their rest house in Mānasasarovara, Elsewhere, it speaks of a Vidhyādhara king Citrabhānu's son namely Pratisūrya of Hanupur took Anjana, a chaste woman in his Vimana that was glittering with cluster of pearls dangling from its ceiling. The same text while describing the story of Bhagwan Shantinath mentions that a Vidhyādhara named Agnighosh passing in an aerial Vimāna got attracted to Queen Sutara and kidnapped her.
The Jñātasūtra gives an interesting description of 4000 vehicle based Gods and Goddesses led by Dardur, the God of the Sudharma kalpa (the first abode of Gods) performing divine music and dance before Lord Mahavira.
The Uttaradhyayana Sūtra8 mentions that a Vidyādhara Maniprabha picked Mahāsati Madanarekhā falling from the sky in his plane and took her to an asetic at Mithina. The text also highlights that the plane could be turned in reverse direction.
Most of the Jain texts associate acroplanes with the Vidyādhara class of Gods and give various descriptions of these places.
VIMANAS IN JAIN KAVYA TEXTS Several Jain poetical literature are also abudant with the description of acroplanes. T'he Tilakamanjario of Dhanapāla mention about the Vymanika God Jvalanaprabha. The text also gives descriptions of flying Vidhyādhara Munis and elephants. Elsewhere, the text mention about the aeroplane of Gandharvaka. The Sudarśanacarita of Vidyānandi deals with Vimanas in 11th chapter.
The Padmānanda Mahakāvya lo of Amaracandra Sūri has exquisite description of Vimanas. In 7th Act (446-448] it states--
Vimānaṁ vyomni vismare jālakam pālakaṁ calat /