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190
Lord Mahavira and His Times
AGNI
Agni (Fire-god) occupied an important place in Brahmanism on account of the importance of Agnihotra. The Gțihyasūtras and the Dharmasūtras prescribe a number of domestic sacrifices for which Agni is needed. Agni was given a high position due to his use in yajña. The Buddhist writers' ridicule Agni-worship probably due to the association of fire with yajiia which involves slaughter of living beings. SŪRYA
In the Vedic period, the Sun occupied an important position but the moon was insignificant. From Buddhist literature, it appears that both were popular deities as they were worshipped by a fairly large number of people. FEMALE DEITIES
Siri and Sirimā the goddesses of Fortune and Luck, were the popular deities of this period. They are referred to also in the Kalpasūtra.3 In Buddhist literature, Siri has been regarded as the daughter of Sakra while Sirimā as the daughter of Dhțitarāshtra. 4 Of the abstract deities that were worshipped, some were Vedic and others new additions. Saddhā (Sraddhā) is a Vedic deity, but Asā and Hiri are non-Vedic.
Ajjā and Kottakiriyā were two different forms of the goddess Durgā who is also called Chandiya. The 'Achärānga refers to the worship of Chandiya with the sacrifice of goats, buffaloes, and human beings to please an inferior type of god. The peaceful goddess Durgā is called Ajjā, and when she rides on a buffalo she is called Koţțakiriyā. LOKAPĀLAS
There are four Lokapālas (Chātumahārājika Devas)? in the four quarters. Dhatarattha Mahārāja, Virulhaka Mahārāja, Virupakkha Mahārāja, and Vessavaņa Mahārāja are the lords of the East, the South, the West and the North res1. Su. Ni, III, 7.21. 2. Therigatha, 87; Jā, I, 474; Vi, 1, 203. 3. SBE, XXII, 232. 4. Ja, III. 262. 5. Jā, V, 392, 6. Achâ. p. 61. 7. Mo, 1, 6.30; Majjh. II, 194.
