________________ Sramana, Vol. 57, No. 3-4 July-December 2006 THE JAINA TANTRIC YANTRAS Lalit Kumar The Tantra deals with works of magical and mystical formularies, which treat the subject like the creation, destruction of the world, the worship of the god, the attainment of all objects (especially super human faculties) and in the union with the supreme spirit by meditation. This is how the word Tantra is defined in the Sanskrit-English Dictionary of Monier MonierWilliams. The Jaina Tantra specializes in Mantric practices, which are fairly old. In the Jaina tradition, it is held that Mahavira himself was an extraordinary Mantric and had converted many persons in his fold. Similar stories are also related to Buddha. In Jainism, the Tantrasastra did not develop to the extent as it had developed in the case of Buddhism and Hinduism. The Mantrasastra promised destruction of the karmas in Jainism. But in course of time, Mantric and Tantric powers were cultivated for lower and selfish gains. A number of such mantras also evolved in Jaina religion, of which Bhairava-padmavati-kalpa is a well known example. In the present context the term mantra means a tool or a formula such as a Mantra-Yantra or a Mantra-Tantra. Pictorial depiction of these diagrams on paper or cloth is generally referred to as Mantra-Yantra patas. The Yantra-patas are the objects of meditation. Of all the mystic diagrams and the mantra, the most important and oftrepeated mantra of the Jainas, is the Pancanamaskara or Navakara mantra. It calls for homage to the five most revered ones Paramesthins (those who are situated in the highest stage) : 'Homage to the omniscient ones (Arhat), Homage to the liberated * Director Recoworat India 31, Satyam Bunglow, Vastrpur, Ahmedabad. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only - www.jainelibrary.org
