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SYMBOL WORSHIP IN JAINISM
99
Nava-Pada is to be visualised, in meditation, as white according to the Nava. Pada Aradhana vidhi 1
The Digambara diagra.n of Nava-Devata is illustrated by a bronze from at temple at Jina-Kañci (fig. 77). The Digambara tantra has two more diagrams known as the Laghu-Siddha-Cakra and the Brhat-Siddha-Cakra both of which are widely different from the Nava-Devata or the Svetämbara Siddha-Cakra. As they are rarely engraved on metal plates and worshipped in temples, a discussion on them is not necessary. Besides, they have no special iconographic importance.
The Digambara Nava-Devata diagram forms the central eight-petalled lotus of the elaborate Pratistha-vidhi-mandala described by Nemicandra in his Pratistha.tilaka. The Nava-Devatãs are also invoked in the Nitya-samdhyākriya-vidhi of the Jina-Samhitä ascribed to Indranandi, the well-known Digambara Tantric of c. tenth century A. D. The Yantra-mantra-vidhi section of the Pratistha-kalpa-tippagam of Vadi Kumudacandra (c. 1275 V. S.) which mentions different Digambara yantras, also describes an elaborate 'Pañca.Mandala' called Nava-Devata, the central eight-petalled lotus of which is reserved for the worship of the Five Parameşthins, the Jina-temple, the Jina-image, the Jaina scripture and the Dharma-Cakra. Obviously, the Arhat amongst these, is placed in the centre of the eight-petalled lotus.
The Jina-Samhita of Ekasamdhi (c. 1250 A. D.) prescribes in the Devarcana-vidhi section, a big mandala with an eight-petalled lotus in centre, wherein are invoked the Five Parameşthins, and the symbols (?) of samyak-jñāna, s-darśana, and s-caritra; tapa, however, is omitted, possibly through a copyist's mistake. The mandala contains, moreover, invocations to the goddesses of the Jaya and the Jambha groups, the sixteen Vidyådevis, the twenty-four Yaksinis and others. According to the author of this work, the mandala followed the tradition of Indranandi. Thus the central part of this elaborate diagram completely corresponds to the still existing type of the Svetambara Siddha-Cakra illustrated in our figure 85. Again, in the Pratisthā-vidhi section, the same writer, following Indranandi, gives a bigger mandala including
Also, Siri Siriväla-Kaha, verses 1185-1191.
First published by Shri Ramacandran, T. N., Tiruparuttikuṇram and its Temples, pl. XXXVI, fig. 2
Pratistha-tilaka, pp. 72-73. Asadhara in his Pratistha-säroddhāra, p. 20, appears to suggest the same thing.
Incomplete mss. of this work are available in Digambara Bhāndāras. One such (No. 182-Ka) exists in Sri Ailaka Pannalal Dig. Jaina Bhāndāra, Bombay.
In mss. No, 222/kha, Jaina Siddhanta Bhavana, Arrah,
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