Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 484

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Sec. X] Studies IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA some perceive the vehicle but not the god and goddess ; some perceive both and some do not perceive any of them at all by the process of Vaikriya-Samudghāta (Process of expansion of body and soul;.
It is further recorded that a houseless monk can fly into the sky by assuming the form of a man with a sword and a shield in hand, etc., but he did not assume nor does nor will do it. He can go many Yojanas by assuming many forms of a horse by his own strength, self-action and self-application. But he is not certainly the horse.
The text throws further light upon the supernatural powers of the monks by explaining Caranāt (a faculty of movement) possessed by them and classifying it into two kinds, viz., Vidyācāraņā and Janghācāraņā. The faculty of Vidyācaraṇā is born in a monk as a result of his practice of consecutive Şastha-tapa-karma with the attainment of Uttaragunalabdhi (faculty) and that of the learning of the Pūrvagata Sruta, i. e. the tenth Pūrva. By the acquired power of the faculty of Vidyācāraņā he may fly to different places and return to his original place within the twinkling of an eye. The faculty of Janghācāranā of a monk, meditating on the self is born in him as a result of his consecutive Astama-Astama-tapa-karma. By the power of this faculty of Janghācāraņā he may go to the horizontal and upward directions and return to his original place within an instant.
Supernatural Elements
In the Bhs the author has introduced some supernatural elements to teach the law of morality to the people in general for their proper guidance and conduct in following the path of religion and attaining spiritual realization by creating the fear of sin (pāpa), hells and the sufferings of infernal beings as the consequences of their former sinful acts and by holding before them a picture of heaven, an abode of enjoyment and happiness
| Bhs, 3, 4, 156. 3 Ib., 13, 9, 498.
2 Ib, 3, 5, 161. 4 Ib., 20,?,684-85.