________________
Titthayara
338
three kinds of knowledge? (mati-šruta-avadhi) and when he enters the ascetic life (he develops the fourth knowledge, e.g., manahparyāya. He excells even Cakkavattis, Baladevas(2) and Vasudevas(1)9 in all respects such as structure, form, complexion, knowledge, power, courage, etc. He is a Sayambuddha(1) (getting enlightenment of his own accord).10 There are thirtyfour eminences (atisayas = supernatural things) associated with him.11 Five important occasions in his life, viz., entering the womb of his mother (cyavana), taking birth (janma), renouncing the world (niskramaņa), attaining omniscience (kevala) and emancipation (nirvana), called pañcakalyāņaka are celebrated by gods who descend on the earth, say songs of praise, attend upon him, make shower of precious things and flowers, perform his ablution ceremony, construct the audiance-hall (samosarana) and do many other things which add to his greatness and hence his supernaturalness.12 He performs Samādhimarana and attains mokşa (emancipation).13 He is addressed with a number of epithets such as Ādikara, Lokapradipa, Dharmavaracaturāntacakravartin, Buddhalt and as Dharmācārya also.15
In every cycle of Ussappiņi and Osappiņī there appear twentyfour Titthayaras in the Bharaha(2) as well as in the Eravaya(1) region.16 Twenty-three of them take birth in Düsamasusamā period and one in Susamadásamā.17 In the whole of Samayakhetta there exist twenty at the minimum and one hundred seventy Titthayaras at the maximum.18 In the Jambuddiva alone there exist four (all in Mahāvideha ) at the minimum and thirtyfour (one in Eravaya(1) and Bharaha(2) each and thirtytwo in the same number of districts-Vijayas(23) of Mahāyideha ] at the maximum.19
The first and the last Titthayara preached pañcayāma (five vows) and aceladharma (nakedness ) and the rest did căturyāma (four vows) and saceladharma (use of clothes ). This is true in the case of Eravaya(1) too and both the cycles.21 In Mahāvideha there always prevails caturyāmadharma.22 Nineteen of the twentyfour Titthayaras of Bharaha(2) renounced 7. Jna. 65, Dev. 239, Vis. 1853, AvaBh. 14. Bha. 5, Jna. 5, Pras. 22, 29, 110.
VyaBh. 7. 271. 8. Vis. 1910, AvaBh. 110
15. VyaBh. XII. p. 112, vv. 132-3. 9. AvaN. 75, 572, AvaCu. I. p. 330
16. Sam. 157, 159, Tir. 314, 1111, 1116. 10. AvaN. 212.
17. Jam. 34, 40, AvaCu. I. p. 135, 11. Bha. 380, Sam. 34, AvaN. 642 (v.5),
Jams. p. 166, 177. Cat. 18. 12. Aca. 2.176-9, Jna. 65, 76-77, Bha.
18. AvaCu. II. p. 258, AcaSi. p. 178. 504, Jam. 112-123, AvaN. 212--220,
19. Jam. 112, 173, Sam. 34, Sth. 302. 265, 540-541, BrhBh. 1177-1195,
20. Bha. 677, Sam. 24, 157, Nan. 18AvaCu. I. pp. 135-151, 250ff, 181,
19, Vis. 1758. 325ff., KalpV. p. 12, Tir. 196ff.,
21. Utt, 23-12, 13, Sth. 266, AvaN. 425ff.
236, BrhBh. 6369, AvaCu. II. p. 62. 13. VyaBh. 10.525, JitBh. 469.
22. Sth. 266.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
