Rajendrasuri Janma Sardh Shatabdi Granth

Author(s): Premsinh Rathod
Publisher: Rajendrasuri Jain Navyuvak Parishad Mohankheda

Page 617

Jainism underwent a great gap and chances to lapse itself in its importance and prominence in the midst of other competitive religions. At right period, jinas have influenced the people and attracted their attention by their sweet pronounciation of valuable doctrines regarding this religion.
Jinas, by virtue of their austenties and attainments, have transcended all limitations and they enjoyed a stete just similar to Parabrahma of Hinduism; Jainism expects such jinas to be supported and that they would take care of the ardent devotees, who approach them with folded hands and with a surrendered attitude. Before jinas nobody is anything.
Jinas are known for their unmatchable qualities and virtues which are ordinarily impossible for the normal folk. A jina is known for self-control. Through that discipline, he would have a command over his senses and other attributes of human body. Since through experience and deep meditation, they learnt that, unless one raises above these considerations, a kind of happiness of immortal stnndard would be something impossible. Most of the jinas are Ksatriyas and kings who gave up their wealth and took to renunciation for spiritual attainment.
Jinas are to be guarded. So Jainism believes in the tradition that each of the 24 jinas enjoy the attendance and care by Devis. Their blessings are invoked. There are only two Jinas who are attended by Yakshas. The detailed mythology in respect of these Devis and Yakshas could be vast. But hereunder, it is proposed to present a view of Sobhanamuni together with certain details of the respective Devis and Yakshas in order to mark the ruling characteristics of devis of Jain mythology.
In a length of 24 slokas, Sobhanamuni, of tenth century A.D. has extolled the Devis as a part of concluding verse, of each of the Jinas, in his stotra work viz. Catur vimsika. The only extant available work of Sobhanamuni is caturvimsika an eulogy running into ninty six verses wherein the twenty four tirthankaras are praised and their blessings are invoked. Sobhanamuni is regarded as mahakavi and as an author of several other works also. But unfortunately none of others are available. The special contribution of Sobhanamuni lies in exclusively characterising the female deities attendant on these Jinas.
An exclusive discussion over these dieties as presented by this muni, is presented below and this would help to descriminate the mythology of these deities as presented by the others. Narmally "Bhakti" becomes the determining factor with respect to Devi and visualisation of the same. Moreover, a strong belief too reigns over their an throphomorphic features and their abstract powers over mankind. Further, through these descriptions, the superiority of jinas in general become established. The very fact that Devi's blessings become expedient to the jinas and the jainas, indicates the importance of these deities. Moreover, there is also a method to invoke the blessings of all the jinas collectively, a special practice introduced by Sobhana Muni. The stuti by Sobhana Muni incidentally attracted the scholarship of Dhanapala who wrote 'Curika' (Notes) for the same. As a result Sobhanamuni becomes better uuderstood by people at large. Also the intrinsic intentions of this muni too become evident. It is so because this muni has paraded all his poetic wealth and rich imagination and also his good command over the Sanaskrit language and its stylistic turns. His style marks a note of distinction and that contributes to the value of Jaina works in Sanskrit of that century.
From his stotra, one can notice the deep erudition he had irrespect of the religion and philosophy. In a length of ninty six Slokas, symmetrically distributed. this muni is successful in providing the essense and the message of Jainism and its influence over people. He seems to be a stuanch advocate of Jainism of those times. Hereunder let us note certain details in brief about the Devis in particular and jinas in general.
- II. The twenty four tirthankaras and the connected female Deities are as follows: Jinas
Devis 1. Rishabha
Sruta Devi 2. Ajita
Manasi Devi 3. Sambhava
Sri Vajrasrunkhala 4. Abhinandana
Rohini 5. Sumati
Kali 6. Padmaprabha
Gandhari 7. Suparsva
Mahamanasi 8. Candraprabha
Vajrakshi 9. Suvidhi
Jvalanayudha 10. Sitala
Manavi 11. Sreyamsa
Mahakali 12. Vasupujya
Sri Santi
7. See "The Contribution of Sobhanamuni to
the propagation of Jainism” by Dr. C. L. Prabhakar, (under press).
8. Same as FN 3b.
V.N.S. 2503
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