Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

SR No.: 011037
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shaktidhar Jha
Publisher: Bharat Bharti Bhandar
Publication Year: 1978
Total Pages: 315
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 211

Sects of the Faina Purāņakāras-Caritas and Purānas
193
viz, Soma, Varuna, Kubera and Tama as the regents of the directions, east, west, north and south respectively 36 These regents of the four quarters are said to have been employed in their respective directions by a counterfeit Indra, who, although a Vidyadhara, considers himself to be the second Indra on account of his mother's Indra-pregnancy whim 37 Accordingly, he acts in imitation of the powers and functions of the real Indra Thus, he appointed Sasin (Moon) in the east quarter, Varuna in the west, Kubera in the north and Yama in the south Ravişena, as in most of the other cases, follows Vimalasūri's representation closely. But Svayambhuc38 adds Pavana (Vāyu) to the above four names without mention of the localities assigned to them But in 8.5.2-10 he refers to Agni, Nairtta, iśāna and Indra together with the abovementioned five along with their popular rides and weapons Hemacandra, however, mentions four Dikpalas39 and assigns them the same quarters as noted above
Gunabhadra40 obviously relying on the Purānic sources mentions eight Lokapalas and gives their names as Agni, Yama, Sakra (Indra), Nairsta Pāśın (Varuna), Dhūmadhvajasakhā (Vāyu) Guhyaka (Kubera) and I'śānaal (Sankara) Although these eight
38 ठवियो पुवाए ससी दिसाए वरुणो य तत्थ अवराए। उत्तरो य कुवेरो ठविप्रो च्चिय दक्खिणाए जमो ॥
-VPC, 7 47, RPC, 7 107-116 Compare Rāmā 2 16 24, MBH 3 41 6-17, 46,3 66 5-6, whicb, subject to variations in names, are unanimous in giving the number of the Lokapalas as four According to the abovementioned passages, the world-protectors are Indra, rama, Varuna and Kubera, and Indra, Agni, Varuna and rama (MBh 3 55 5-6). But we also meet with a passage in the MBh (5 16 27) which mentions Kubera, Tama, Soma and Varuna as the Lolapalas, L.cep.
ing both Indra and Agnt out of the group 37 VPC, 75-8 RPC, 7 18 38 favore efo Hoa fiu TT97, 994-192-9641-57#-FAETI
-SPC 815 of ibid, 2 5 1-5 39 faqataraga..
--TSPC, 7 1 105a, also 17 1 108-111 40 UP 54 102-110 41 These Lokapālas are the same as enumerated in the couplet •
"इन्द्रो वह्नि पितृपतिनिऋतिर्वरुणोऽनिल । घनद शकरश्च व लोकपाला पुरातना ॥"
--quoted in Sabdakalpodruma, EK IV, p. 231 as an cxcerpt from the Vahnıpurāna