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Jaina Community-A Social Survey
something if only a son may be born to them.172 Further, it is believed that the dreams can foretell the good or bad future and many examples are noted in Jaina literature where the dreams had suggested the occurrence of both the happy and unhappy events.173 Moreover, the Jainas have a faith in both the auspicious and inauspicious signs and the Jaina books give a long list of such signs especially to be noted at the time of starting on a journey. 174 Further, magic occupies an important place in the Jaina iterature. It ranges from the gross and crude practices to avert the Ivil eye for affording protection against malignant men and spirits eo the subtle process of discovering one's thoughts, or inducing a magic sleep, going through the air, causing invisibility and compeling obedience of human and divine beings, by means of the dreadful black art.175 The Jainas of Rajputana were considered as magicians and were supposed to have possessed supernatural skill. They were, therefore, known as Vidyavan or Magi (that is, the Man of Secrets) of Rajasthan.176 Similarly, a few Mysore Jainas are skilled magicians and others have attained yogic life. IThey also believe in the efficacy of the mantrams.177 It is stated that Manadeva, the spiritual, leader of Jainas, even suppressed the plague of Taxilla by composing the Santistotra which contained many mantras.
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In this connection it should be noted that the superstitions mentioned above have no religious sanction at all. Jainism has never enjoined upon its followers to accept such beliefs because they go against its basic principle, namely, non-existence of divine grace. Jaina saints had visualised that the people, who are much after securing personal favour from gods, are prone to believe in and abide by such superstitions. According to Jainism Samyagdarsana or Right Faith is the primary condition expected in its followers. Right faith, as we have already noted, means a firm belief in the principle of Jainism. It is important to observe that among other things this right faith must be free from the three types of superstitious ignorance,179 and all superstitions described above come under these three categories of superstitious gnorance. Hence the true believers and followers of Jainism do not approve of these superstitions and the Bombay Gazetteer hias also admitted this fact.180 From the fact that the Jaina superstitions have no religious basis and that they are just like Hindu
