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Umakant P. Shah
it is very likely that only these four lives formed the subject matter of the original text. A glance at the stylised summary treatment of the remaining Tirthankaras lends doubt to their antiquity and would suggest later additions, especially because the view seems to obtain support from the absence of images of twenty (out of the twenty-four Tirthan karas) at the Kankali Tila, Mathura. It would seem that details regarding the other Tirthankaras were added towards the close of the Kusana period or before the Mathuri vacana (council at Mathura) took place under the chairmanship of Arya Skandila (c. 300-320 A. D.) 1 It may incidentally be noted that while the nineteenth Jina Mallinatha was a female according to the S've. sect, he was a male according to the Dig. belief.
The Kalpasūtra mentions no cognizance for any of the Trtihankaras. The Āvaysaka-Niryukati at one place only incidentally refers to the cognizance of Rsha - natha ( the first Jina ), in a context which explains the names of the twenty-four Tirthankaras. 2
Cognizances are not mentioned in the ancient lists of atis'ayas or supernatural attributes of a Jina. 3 Of the thirty-four atis'ayas, eight are regarded as the MahaPrátiharyas (chief attendant attributes) which are figured on sculptures and in paintings of a Türthankara. These eight are-the As'oka-tree, scattering of flowers by gods, heavenly music, fly-whisks, lion-seat, prabha-mandala (halo ), heavenly drumbeating, and divine umbrella. 1 A critical study of all the texts, giving lists of atis'ayas and a comparison with all available early sculptures suggest that the list of the eight Mahapratibaryas took its final shape probably towards the close of the Gupta age.
1. For the age etc, of the different councils, see Muni Kalyanavijaya's, Vira Nirvana Samvat,
aur Jaina Kalaganana, in Hindi. Belief in 24 Jinas is however known to Bhagavati Sutra, 16.5. See Avas'yaka Niryukti, vv. 1080 ff. For the various epithets and account etc. of Rsabha, see, Avas'yaka Curni, p. 131 ff, Vasudevahindi, pp. 157, 185. Jacobi, Jaina Sutras, S.B.E., Vol. XXII., pp. 217 ff. Trisastis'alakapurusa charitra, Vol. I, Padmacharitra of Ravisena,
4. pp. 566 ff and Adipurana of Jinasena. 3. See Samavayanga stra, sutra 34 pp. 59-60. Abhidhana-cintamani, 1. 57-64, Tiloyapannatti
of Yativrsabha, 4. verses 896 ff. 4. According to the Dig. verse
अशोकवृक्ष सुरपुष्पवृष्टिदिव्यध्वनिश्चामरमासनं च ।
भामण्डलं दुन्दुभिरातपत्रं सत्प्रातिहार्याणि जिनेश्वराणाम् ।। For a similar S'vetambar list see Pravacana-saroddhara, verse 440; Aupapatika sutra, su. 31, pp. 68-69, For a discussion an Astamangals, see, Shah, U. P., Studies in Jaina Art, pp. 109-112. For a List of Atisayas, acc. to Digambar tradition, see, Jaina, C. R., Outline of Jainism, pp. 129-130.
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