Jainism And Its History

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Research Foundation for Jainology

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and Ksetrapālas (Bhairavas) such as Manibhadra, Ghantākarna Mahāvira and Pārśva yaksa came to be accepted in the Jaina pantheon. In worshipping them many of the ceremonies of Hindu tradition were accepted in Jaina tradition with minor alterations. Texts likes "Bhairava-Padmāvati-kalpa” etc. substantiate this point. In the rituals of Jina-worship and consecration of idols or images in the temple many of the elements of Vedic rituals got assimilated which are very different from the basic ideology of Jaina tradition. We clearly notice today that worshipping Cakresvari, Padmāvati, Ambikā, GhantākarnaMahāvīra, NakodāBhairava, Bhomiyāji, Dikpālas, Ksetrapālas etc. have become very prominent in Jaina tradition.
This is the other aspect of worship and devotion in Jaina tradition basically an influence of Hindu or Brahmana tradition that has come to the fore. There are many mantras recited in Jinaworship, and related ceremonial rituals which can simply be called the Jainization of similar mantras of Brahmana tradition. For example, in Brahmana tradition while Impact of Vedic Tradition on Jainism worshipping the favourite god, (Ista Devata) he is invited or invoked and immersed or abandoned; in Jaina tradition also similar mantras of invitation or invocation and immersion are recited at the time of worship as: aum hrim namo siddanam siddhaparemesthin atra avatara avatara sanvosat. aum hrim namo siddhanam siddhaparamesthin atra tistha tistha thah thah. aum hrim namo siddhanam siddhaparamesthin atra mama sannihato bhava bhava vashat. aum hrim namo siddhanam siddhaparamesthin svasthanam gaccha gaccha jah jah jah.
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Jainism and its History