Jinamanjari 1996 04 No 13

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

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thrones which were placed under trees in early caityas and used as focuses of worship when honouring local deities. 18
That the tree-caitya with a throne was originally used for poplar religious functions is confirmed by stories, like the Palasa-Jataka, which identify these wide, fenced-off enclosures as containing wishing-trees (kalpavrksa) and as being the residences of yaksas and other important local deities, 19 Similarly, the fact that the caitya pre-dates both Buddhist and Jain architectural constructions is verified by the textual accounts which independently describe both the Buddha and Mahavira as having sought shelter within these structures. It is here, within these sacred enclosures dedicated to popular religion, that both of these important religious figures were confronted and challenged by ravenous yaksas. 20 Naturally, the great teachers were able to convert the fierce creatures through their respective virtuous behaviour and spiritual insights. Just as the yaksas themselves were converted, this architectural form was soon adapted to serve both Jain and Buddhist purposes.
Jainism has a long history of tree imagery which is best known through the image of the Jina seated in meditation under a tree. Shah links this type of image to the ancient examples of yaksas and tree images known in Southern India.21 He goes on to point out that the forms of worship described in relation to popular worship closely resembles some of the modern forms of Jain worship, most notably the eight-fold worship (aksat puja). In both the Jain and popular forms of worship the bathing of the image, the giving of flowers and food as well as the burning of incense and lamps were all seen as having the ability to generate positive spiritual results. Even though the ideas behind these two religious traditions differ and differences between Jain and popular conceptions of sacredness and divinity exist, the fact that the trappings in both traditions are the same suggests some
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