Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÚTRA [Ch. I The fifth and seventh Upāngas, namely, Suriyapannatti and Camdapannatti contain a description of the suns, the moons etc. by giving an exposition of Jaina Astronomy.
The Jambuddīvapannatti, the sixth Upānga describes Jambūdvipa as the habitat of men and it is interfused with many legends. It enumerates seventy-two kinds of Kalās (arts of learning). The conclusion of this work ends in its reference to the sun, the moon, stars, the extent of their vimānas, and Mars and Saturn as belonging to the lunar court.
The eighth to twelfth Upāngas are Nirayāvaliyā or Kalpikā, Kappāvaờansiā (Kalpāvatamsika), Pupphão, Pupphacūlão (Puspa cüda) or Pupphacüliã and Vanhidasão (Vrsniduśā). Each of them except the last one (12 ch.), having ten chapters contains legends about the after world, destiny of ten princes fallen in a battle.
Thus the Nirayāvaliya Sutra contains a description of hells and the future births of the ten princes, Kāla and others, the step-brothers of king Kūņika in the fourth hell as a result of their participation in the war called Mahāśilakantaka Sangrāma. Here it furnishes the historical data about this war, king Kuņika and imprisonment of his father, Seniya-Bimbisāra.
The Kalpāvatarsaka deals with the account of the ten sons of the ten princes, Kāla and others, all of whom were converted to Sramana Dharma and attained their respective heavens.
The Pupphiyā (Puspēkā) discusses the topic of the ten gods, viz. the moon, the sun and others, who paid their homage to Lord Mahāvīra by making their appearance to him from their celestial worlds. Thereupon the Master relates the story of their former births in which they were initiated to Sramana Dharma by Lord Pārsvanātha and devoted to the study of eleven Angas, commencing with sāmāyika.
The Pupphacülão treats of ten other accounts of similar character of ten goddesses, namely, Sri, HỊë, Dhrti and others.
+ Jombuddiva ponnatti,