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The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
Suyassa), gradually the same Suya is considered as a Śrutadevī Bhagavatī (Sarasvatī) and presiding deity (adhișthāyaka deva) for the protection of scriptures. In the end (prasasti) of Bhagavati-sūtra, some more gāthās are available (c. 5th A.D.) for performing mangala. Here the writer (Laheayā) first adored Guru Gautama svamī and next to Bhagavatī-sūtra (Vyākhyā prajñapti) itself then the adoration is shown towards Dvādasa Gaạipitaka. Lastly, Śrutadevī is worshipped with all her guņas and prayed to destroy darkness of ignorance. The author requested the Śrutadevī to shower her blessings in getting knowledge for writing without any hindrance and obstacles47. He even asked the deity to confer cool and calmness to all devotees. This Prasasti, at the end of Sūtra represents Śrutadevī as presiding over knowledge but this is a later development after fifth century in the view of Dr. Sagarmal Jain: Therefore it is assumed in the beginning Sarasvati is referred as the distinctive form of Jinavani (Śruta) in Ardhamagadhi Agama literature by mentioning ‘Namo Suya Devayāe Bhagavaīe’48 Śruta is given sacred place for adoration which gradually converted into Śrutadevī and worshipped as a Bhagavatī. Jinavāni -to - Śruta -to - Bhagavatī of Bhagavatī-sūtra. In the Niryukti and Bhāsya literature Sarasvati is not offered the first mangala. The scriptures of Digambara tradition has reference to Śrutadevī Sarsvatī but this is a later addition49. Kaşāyapāhuda, Şatkhaņdāgama, Mulācāra, Bhagavatī-ārādhanā, Tiloyapannatti, Pañcāstikāya-sāra and Pravacana-sāra also do not mention Śrutadevatā Sarasvati as part of mangala in the beginning. Even the Tikās of Tatvarthasūtra viz. Sarvārthasiddhi, Rājavārtīka, Sloka-vārtika and the Tikās of Şatakhandāgama viz.
47 कुमुय सुसंठियचलणा अमलिय कोरट विटसंकासा ।
सुयदेवयाभगवती मम मतितिमिरं पणासेउ ।। वियसियअरविंदकरा नासियतिमिरा सुयाहिया देवी । मज्झं पि देऊ मे हं बुहविबुहणमंसिया णिच्चं ।। सुयदेवयाए णमिमो जीए पसाएण सिक्खियं नाणं । अण्णं पवयणदेवी संतिकरी तं नमसांमि ।।
- Gathas in the end of Bhagavati-sūtra, Jain S. article on
“Sarasvati..".Titthayea, July, 2009. 48 Bhagavatī-sūtra 9/33/149 and 163 49 Jain S., article in Titthayara, 2009, pp 230, 31.
