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STUDIES IN JAINA ART
all the above-mentioned deities and many more, and invokes the Pañca-Paramesthins and the four-padas, namely, Jñana, Darśana, Caritra and Tapa, in the central eight-petalled lotus. That what the Digambaras worshipped as a Siddha-Cakra yantra, was quite different from the Svetämbara one of the same name as also from the Digambara Nava-Devata, is quite evident from the des criptions of the Laghu-Siddha-Cakra and the Brhat-Siddha-Cakra yantras given by Asadhara, Ekasamdhi, and Vadi Kumudacandra. "
Amongst the Svetämbaras, the Nine Worthies were also the first group of deities invoked in the elaborate Nandyåvarta-mandala prescribed for consecratory rites by the Acara-Dinakara (1468 V. S.). The Nirvankalika (c. 11th Century A. D.) refers to the same mandala, but in the invocation mantras tapas' or Right Penance is replaced by Suci-vidya. Hemacandra, in his Yogaśăstra describes a yantra with Five Parameşthins, but instead of adding the four padas noted above (Jñana, Darśana etc.), the four padas' of the Namaskara-mantra (Navakara-mantra) giving the fala-śruti are prescribed in the intervening quarters (vidik-patras of the eight-fold lotus). 8 Thus the yantra of Hemacandra, partly different from the Siddha-Cakra known today, proves that the older Nava-pada-yantra was composed simply of the various. parts of the older Navakära-mantra'. And it is interesting to note that Hemacandra dces not specify it as Siddha-Cakra. The same writer, however, refers to the Siddha-Cakra as a diagram brought to light, by Vajrasvami, from the lost Vidyanupravada-parvva text, in the early centuries of the Christian era. 9 Unfortunately, the yantra is not described in this context and the
1
3
Pratistha-Kalpa-Tippanam, Yantra-mantra-vidhi-section. (Ms.)
4 Diagram of the shape of the Nandyävarta symbol.
5
Acara-Dinakara, part 2, pp. 154. ff
Nirvanakalika, pp. 16 ff, note the order PKT. verses quoted here, Yogaśāstra, Chp. 8, verses 33-35.
8 The original mantra known as the Pañca-Paramesthi mantra is नमो अरिहंताणं । नमो सिद्धाणं । नमो आयरियाणं । नमो उवज्झायाणं नमो लोए सव्यसाहू |
This followed by a fala śruli in four padas (called culapadas by Hemcandra) would constitute a Nivakara-mantra. The 4 padas are:-- एसो पंच नसुकारो। सव्वपापप्पासो । मंगलारणं च सव्वेंसि । पढमं हवइ मंगलं । " ज्ञानवद्भिः समाम्नातं वज्रस्वाम्यादिभिः स्फुटम् ।
विद्यानुवादात्समुद्रस्य बीजभूतं शिश्रियः ॥ ७४ ॥ जन्मदाव हुताशस्य प्रशान्तनववारिदम् । गुरूपदेशाद्विज्ञाय सिद्धचक्रं विचिन्तयेत् ॥ ७५ ॥
6
Pratiṣṭhāsāroddhāra, Chp. 6, siddha-pratiṣṭhāvidhi, verses 10-14. Jinasamhita, (Mss. ), Chp. 9, verses 88.
7
Jain Education International
Yoga-sastra, 8, verses 74-75.
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