Prakrit Proper Names Part 2

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta, K R Chandra, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 16

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Baladevaghara
suffering in a hell but he could not. On Kanha's advice he made himself popular in the world in the form of a deity holding a conch, a sword, a disc and a club in his hands, putting on yellow robe and having a banner of garuda unfurling over him.19 He will be reborn as Ņikkasāya, fourteenth would-be Titthamkara in the Bharaha(2) region.20 See also Rāma(1). 19. UttNe. pp. 44-45.
1 20. Sam. 159, Sth. 692.
2. Baladeva It is a class-name. A Baldeva is a (elder brother of a Vasudeva(1). He is also known as Bala(14).He is lord of the half of the Bharaha(2) country. He wields a ploughshare (hala), a pestle (mušala) and a bow (Kanaka, i.e. arrow). He is white by complexion. He also bears 108 auspicious marks and has super-powers. Baladevas never take birth in low familes. Their mothers see any four of the fourteen great dreams. There appear four Baladevas at the minimum and thirty at the maximum in the Jambuddiva. In the Bharaha(2) as well as Eravaya(1) regions nine Baladevas are born in every cycle and that also in Dussamasusamā.10 They do not make any nidāna (resolve) in their previous births. They generally attain liberation. They wear green clothes.12 The nine Baladevas born in the Bharaha region in this Osappiņi13 are: 1. Ayala(6), 2. Vijaya(11), 3. Bhadda(13), 4. Suppabba(1), 5. Sudamsaņa(7), 6. Āņamda(1) 7. Ņamdaņa(1), 8. Pauma(6), and 9. Râma(1). All of them belonged to the Goyama(2) gotra except Rāma who belonged to the Kāsava(1) gotra.14 The names of the nine would-be Baladevas of Bharaha(1) are : Jayamta(6), Vijaya(12), Bhadda(2), Suppabha(3), Sudamsana(2), Pauma(5) and Samkarisapa.15 The Titthogāli mentions Kanha(8), Jayamta and Jiya as the first three would-be Baladevas.16 1. Sam. 159, Bha. 203, Pras. 15, Dasa , 10. Sam. 158, 159, AvaCu. I. p. 215, Vis. 6-1, JivM. p. 280.
1764, Tir. 604, Jam. 36, 10. 2. AvaN. 402.
11. Avan, 414, 416, Vis. 1782-3. 3. Pras. 15.
12. Pras. 15, PrasA. p. 77, Vis. 1764. 4. Pras 15, Sams. p. 157.
13. Sam. 159, Vis. 1766, AvaBh. 41, Tir. 5. AvaN. 402.
567. 6. Pras. 15, NisCu. III, p. 383, AvaN. 14. AvaN. 404. 70, Vis. 783.
15. Sam. 159. 7. Kalp. 17-18, Vis. 1876.
16. Tir. 1144. This reading is not without 8. Bha. 428.
mistake. It could be corrected to 9. Sth. 89, Jam. 173.
Kaņhā, Jayan, Vijia, suppabha, etc.
1. Balade vaghara ( Baladevagpha ) A shrine near Avatta village where Mahāvīra halted for meditation. It seems to be dedicated to Baladeva(1) who was worshipped in those days.
1 AvaN. 481, AvaCu. I. p. 289, Kalpv. p. 166.