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The gradual development of Deities in Jaina Pantheon
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One headless image of Aristanemill from Cauraši mound is of early medieval period flanked by Balrāma and Krsna. On the pedestal of the same has a vertical cakra carved at the centre flanking with a yakșa and yakṣī. A statuette of Aristanemi (34.2488 MM.) assigned to Kuşāņa period seated in dhyāna mudra has a scalloped nimbus flanked by Balarāma and Krsna. His other images of same period are now in Lucknow Museum viz. J 8 (97 A.D.), J. 47 (1st A.D.), J 60(1st A.D.) J 117, J 121(5th A.D.).
4.3
The Origin, Development and Practice of Tantra in Jainism: In Jainism the 14 purvas (scriptures), considered very ancient comprise with mantras and vidyas, when uttered with meditation produce miraculous powers. They are now extinct, but whatever recollected through oral tradition are incorporated in Agama literature. The origin of tantric practice in Jaina faith is available before 1st Kalpasūtra mentions two vidyādharas - Vidyācāraṇa and Janghācāraņa having vast knowledge of Tantrism i.e. doctrines of rituals, disciplines, and meditations of Tantrism. Therefore they are called vidyādharas (Dhārayati vidyā iti vidyādharaḥ). As per Jaina scriptures, Gautamasvāmī reached the peak of mountain Aștāpada with the power of Sun beams. One of the purva, Vidyā-pravāda speaks Navagraha śānti stotra composed (retained) by Bhadrabāhusvāmī-I, the 5th Śrutkevali. The stotra12 mentions a procedure of adoration of Navagrahas with rituals when a person is in trouble. His disciple Sthulabhadra also acquired the knowledge of certain mantras with his blessings. Once Sthulabhadra's sisters came to greet when he was meditating, he changed his form on seeing them. They saw a lion instead of their brother, who in fact had transformed his body into that of a lion by some mantra he had learnt. The sisters, ran to Guru Bhadrabāhu and narrated the matter. The Guru immediately understood the misuse of power so he again sent them without mentioning anything. This
11 Accn. no. 37.2738 MM, Catalogue of Jaina Antiquity. (Mathurā, G. Museum, 2003),
P1.40. 12 Nitya Patha Samgrah, ed. Sarabhai Navab, (Mumbai, Meghraj Pustak Bhandar, 1941).
Janma lagne ca Rašauo ca yada pidanti khecarāḥa,.../ Puspaehi, Gandhaiḥ, Fala-naivedya Sanyuktaiḥ...// // Jinanamagratah kritva, grahanam santi hetave..// Bhadrabahuruvacaivam pancamaḥ śrutkevali// Vidyāpravadatah purvad, graha santividhim śubham/ -Grahasanti stotram. ,
