Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 280

Sec. VII] STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
255 The BIS gives a graphic account of the royal harem consisting of eight crown-palaces (constructed for the eight newly married princesses), which looked like the rising smiling moon in the sky. In the centre of these lofty mansions there was a great palace (bhavana) for the crown prince and also a theatre hall supported on many columns (anegakharibhasaya-sainnivittham-pecchāghurumamdurariasi).' Articles of Furniture
These eight palaces of the harem were furnished with the following articles of furniture one for each, viz. eight best palace-banners and eight flags, embroidered with jewels (savvarayaņāmae niyagavarabhavaņakcū and jhae), eight golden hanging chained lights, eight silver hanging lights, eight golden-silver hanging lights, eight golden high-shining lights, thus and the same three also.'
There is also an incidental reference to the oil lamp (padiva).
There were eight golden mirrors" (attha sovanniyāin tha. sayāiri), eight golden foot-stools (pāyapīdhae), eight golden seats (bhisiyão), eight golden couches (pallańke), eight golden sofas (padisejjāo), eight swan-seats (hamsāsaņāim), eight curlew seats (lcorcāsaņāim), eight eagle-seats (garulāsaņāin), eight high seats (unnayāsaņāim), eight low seats (panayāsıņāim), eight long seats (dihāsanāim), eight feather-seats (pallchāsanāir), eight crocodile (or shark) seats (magarāsaņāim), eight lotus-seats (piumāsaņāim), and eight dilcsauvastikāsanas (disāsovatthiyāsiņāim, it may be a kind of revolving seat).
Besides these articles, there is the mention of eight chowries (camarão), and eight palm-leaf fans (taliyante), which formed the part of furniture.
A similar account of the houses etc. and the articles of furniture is also found in other Jain texts. In addition to them,
i Bhs, 11, 11. 429. 116, 11, 11, 430. 8 16, 8, 6, 335.
Ib, 11, 11, 430. According to Abhayadeva Süri the word 'thāsaya' signifies both mirror and mirror-like plate. I have taken the first meaning,
5.0 Ib, 11, 11, 430.