Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 482

Sec. IX]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÜTRA
457
NINTH SECTION
Deities
The Bhs provides a list of the Brähmanical deities worshipped by the people of its society who celebrated festivals in their honour, as already pointed out in connection with the topic Manners and Customs' in the eighth section of the fourth chapter on Social conditions'. They are as follows:
Indra, Skanda, Mukunda, Nāga, Yaksa, Bhūta, Rudra, Siva, Ajjā (Pārvati, the consort of Siva),' Kottakiriyā, Soma (the lord of the Eastern quarter), Yama (the lord of the Southern quarter) Varuna (the lord of the Western quarter), and Vaiára. mana (the lord of the Northern quarter), Vai avānara (the firegod)," Pūrnabhadra and Mūnibhadra, the two Ajīvika gods, the goddesses-Sri (the goddess of Luck), Hrî (the goddess of Modesty), Dhyti (the goddess of resolution or satisfaction), Kirti (the goddess of fame), Buddhi (the goddess of learning or intelligence) and Laksmi (the goddess of wealth).
There was the prevalence of image worship of gods and goddesses, as it is revealed by the fact of the salutation and worship to the images of Indra, Skanda, Rudra, Siva and Ajjā? (Āryā, Pārvatī or Candikā), Kostakiriyā (the Mahişāsuravadhikā), made by Tāmals of Tāmralipti, while practising the Prānāma austerity and that of the presentation of marriage gifts of the images of the female deities Sri, Hri, Dhrti, Kirti, Buddhi and Laksmi,s to the eight wives of prince Mahābala by his father, king Bala of Hastināpura for the purpose of their worship.
It appears from the reference to these goddesses that the trend of the worship changed from the abstract conception of the five or six attributes or virtues to their personifications from the Vedic period up to that of the Bhs, as they are typically Vedic goddesses.
Bhs, 9, 33, 383; 3, 1, 134.
10, 3, 1, 134. s 1b, 11, 9, 417. Ib, 3. 1, 134 ; 11, 9, 417. • Ib, 15, 1, 550. 8 Ib, 11, 11, 430. 7 16, 3, 1, 134. 810, 11, 11, 430.
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