World Of Jainism

Author(s): Vishwanath Pandey
Publisher: Vishwanath Pandey

Page 34

32
THE ORIENT
able disease are relieved or removed by this spiritual power as we very often see in the narrative literature of the Jainas. By the systematic and scientific utterance of the mystic formulae which is one of the manifestations of spiritual potentiality many difficult tasks such as taming a ferocious animal, the cure of a fatal disease and the stalling of enemy's attack are accomplished. The stories connected with the power and efficacy of the Bhakta-mara Stotra can be cited as instances to substantiate the above point.
Now let us analyse the purpose for which the supernatural agency has been employed in the Jaina narrative literature. Some of these are definitely the following: (a) for displaying the impact and efficiency of Jainism; (b) for making the story more attractive and appealing than what it would have otherwise been; (c) for illustrating the magical power of the mystical formula; (d) for proving the greatness to the great; (e) for developing the main characters of the story; (f) for stimulating curiosity; (g) for creating proper atmosphere in the story; (h) for the maintenance of tradition; (i) to increase the bulk and the size of the story; () to carry out a specific objective; (k) to give a turn and twist to the narrative; (1) for strengthening a belief. etc.
These would not have been carried out effectively without the help of the supernatural element. Mere human agency or effort would have miserably fallen short and the writer's aim would have suffered.
The Miracles
Certain incidents and episodes, almost patent, are cited here in support of what has been said above regarding the employment of supernatural agency. There is an episode in the story literature of the Jainas which eulogizes the efficacy of celibacy in lieu of which weapons are turned into inaction (Sudarshan Seth's story in Punyasrava Kathkosa, p. 11). These are some of the phenomena which we very often come across in the story literature. op. cit. p. 195. A fine aerial car comes into existence and air fight is undertaken, op. cit. p. 228. When the four principal Karmas of the would-be Tirthankara are completely annihilated, ten "excellences" occur as its evidence, namely (1) no famine visits the area measuring four hundred yojnas when the Tirthamkara moves round about; without any vehicle he can float in the air; no one hurts any one in his religious assemblage; he can remain without food for ever till death; all his four faces appear in all the four directions; he knows and perceives everything; his body has no shadow etc. (op. cit. p. 348). A sovereign monarch's material property consisting of eighteen crores of horses, eightyfour lacs of elephants, eighy four lacs of chariots, eightyfour crores