Jaya Group of Goddesses

Author(s): Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Z_Vijay_Vallabh_suri_Smarak_Granth_012060.pdf

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ACARYA VIJAYAVALLABHASURI COMMEMORATION VOLUME
prosperity. These four are also worshipped in the Cintamani or Pārsva cintamani-yantra described by Dharmaghosa Süri.11
Jaya, Ajitä, Aparajitä, Jambha, Mohã and Vijaya are also invoked in the yantra according to the Vṛddhasampradaya on the Upasargaharastotra, verse 2,13 and also in the Cintāmaṇi Cakra on the same verse.1*
Jaya, Vijaya, Jayantă, Aparajita and Anahitä are famous in the Vardhamana-Vidya. Elsewhere the present writer has suggested that Anahită probably signifies some form of Anaitis or Anihatä,16 Jaya Vijaya and Ajită are included in the list of mahadevis in the famous. Rşimandalastotra.17
Vijaya and Jambhini are also referred to as Vidyas in the Paumacariyam.18
In the Digambara tradition, the Bhairava-Padmavati-Kalpa calls Jaya, Vijaya, Ajitá and Aparajita as Dig-devis (goddesses of quarters) while Jambha, Moha, Stambha and Stambhint are said to be Vidig-devis (goddesses of intermediate points),10 The text prescribes their worship for Vasya-rites.
According to the Pratisthäsâroddhära of Asadhara, Jaya, Vijayā, Aparajita, Jambha, Moha, Stambha and Stambhini are to be worshipped in the bahirmandalapaja. They are invoked for obtaining Santi (peace) and bliss. But the author does not give their symbols. Nemicandra in his Pratisthätilaka calls them Sadhu-devis. They are said to protect the Jaina Faith and give victory over rival faiths and
enemies.
It will be seen that in both the Svetämbara and the Digambara traditions, the four goddesses are invoked for Santi; Vijayā later on came to be worshipped as Santidevatä. The various texts on Sarimantra and the Vardhamanavidya further show that they were regarded as giving victory. But their special inclusion in the Vardhamänavidya is significant. The Vidya is used with certain changes as mantras by different types
12. Manträdhiraja-Cintamani, pp. 30 ff., 7 ff.
13. Jaina-Stotra-Sandoha, śri Cintamanikalpa, pp. 6-7.
14. Ibid., p. 9.
15. Two Vardharnānavidya-kalpas of Sri Simhatilakasuri, published in Surimantrakalpasandoha, pp. 1-22.
Shah, U. P., Foreign Elements in Jaina Literature, IHQ. Sept. 1953. 17. Mahaprabhavika-Navasmarana, p. 516.
13. Paumacariyam, 7.141, 144.
19. Bhairava-Padmavati-Kalpa, p. 19, verses 1-4; Pp. pp. 12-13, verses 17-18, 20. Pratistha-Säroddhāra, pp. 79-81.
21. Ibid., p. 81, verses 225-26.
22. Pratisthätilaka, pp. 179-80, also cf. p. 215, verse 8,