Book Title: Scientific Secrets of Jainism
Author(s): Nandighoshvijay
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad
________________
Scientific Secrets of Jainism
and appointed them to rule over the cities." Their tribe came to be called the tribe of Vidyadharas. Among various branches of ancient Jain monks, one is known by the name of Vidyadhara.12 According to the Kalpasūtra, there is a reference to the branch of Acarya is Vidyadhari." Thus, according to the Jain tradition, the origin of mystic science or science of mantra can be traced to times earlier than nearly one crore multiplied by one crore i.e. a thousand billion (104) Sāgarōpama years."
190
In the Jain Agama tradition, the twelve Arga sūtras are regarded to be chief. Among them, Dṛṣṭivada, the twelfth Anga sūtra has special significance. Of course, this Anga sūtra is not available today. It is lost. The fourteen pūrvas in them were very important. One of the fourteen purvas, was entitled Vidyāpravāda. According to its name, this purva is perfectly an inexhaustible treasure of the science of mantra. It was from this pūrva that Acārya Śri Bhadrabāhusvāmi who has knowledge of all the fourteen purvas, extracted the Grahaśānti Stōtra. 15 There have been many powerful Acāryas succeeding to the holy tradition of disciple of Śramana Bhagavan Mahāvirasvāmi, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of Jain tradition. According to Sthaviravali, given in the commentary to the Kalpasūtra, Arya Vajrasvāmi had the mystic knowledge of bodily transformation (Vaikriya labdhi Vidya) and Ākāśagāminī Vidyā (a knowledge of going from one place to another place through sky i.e. to fly in the sky). There are clear reference to show that Sri Sthulibhadrajī, śri Priyagranthsuriji, śrīguptācārya (a Guru of Rōhagupta), Ārya Samitasūriji and others also knew mantra and tantras. 16
Moreover, Śri Vṛddhavādī, śri Siddhasēna Divākara, Śrī Mānatungasūrijī, Śri Nandiṣēņa, Śrī Mānadēvasūrijī, śri Skandilācārya, Śrī Pādaliptasūriji, śri Nāgārjūna, Śri Haribhadrasūriji, Śrī Hēmacandrasūriji, śri Jinaprabhasūriji and many other Acāryas are famous as experts in the science of mantra.
When we think of the mantra literature of the Jain tradition, we are reminded of Namaskāra Mahāmantra Kalpa, Lōgassa Kalpa, Namutthunam Kalpa, Uvasaggaharam Stotra Kalpa, Hrikāra Kalpa, Vardhamānavidya Kalpa, Rşimandala Kalpa, Santikaram Stōtra Kalpa, Tijayapahutta Stōtra Kalpa, Bhaktamara Kalpa, Kalyāṇamandira Kalpa which belong to very famous and customary, literature. Propitiation of Surimantra is regarded to be chief and compulsory duty for Jainācāryas. By Sūrimantra chiefly Śri Gautamasvāmi, the first disciple of 24th Tirthankara Śri Mahāvirasvāmi, who
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org