Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 483

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. VII
In the Buddhist Jatakas1 there appear the four Indian graces, viz. Asa (hope), Saddha (faith), Siri (Luck) and Hri (Modesty) as the four daughters of Sakka (Sakra), the king of gods.
Vedic gods:
The Vedic gods, such as, Indra, Varuna, Agni (Vaiśvānara), etc., appear as the personalities and characters endowed with the element of mental conditions, joys, and sorrows, richness, power and prosperity like the human beings, having their original character as hypostatic powers of Nature. But they are depicted as impersonal in nature, for the powers of Nature, such as, the storm, the rain, the thunder, the fire, the water, etc., are still closely associated with them, as it is evidenced by the fact revealed in their characters, e. g. Indra is the possessor of the thunder bolt, Vaiśvānara is that of fire, Varuna is that of water, etc.
The evidences of the plurality of gods and goddesses, the worship of demons (Yaksa, Bhutas), trees, etc., show the faith of the people of its society in polytheism and many obscure cults of the primitive stage of belief which was the fountain-head of many cults emerged in course of the religious evolution in India.
TENTH SECTION.
Supernatural powers of the houseless Monks &
Supernatural Elements
Supernatural power of the houseless monks
The BhS gives some ideas about the supernatural powers of the houseless monks by introducing the miraculous things demonstrated by them. It is stated that some of the houseless monks, meditating on soul perceive the goddess and a vehicle,
2 Bhs, 3, 2, 145 (Vajjam).
1 Jataka, V. p. 393 f, 3.4 76, 11, 9, 417.