________________
Vasudhārā-dhāraņi: A Buddhist work in use among the Jainas of Gujarat
PADMANABH S. JAINI
THE Vasudhāra-dhāraṇī, also variously termed Vasudhāră-stotra and
Vasudhārā-dhāraņi-kalpa is a short dhārani (magic formula) text written in Buddhist Sanskrit. The main part of the text consists of various mantras to be employed in the ritual, but it is set in the framework of a Buddhist sūtra which may be summarised as below:
"Thus have I heard. Once upon a time the Lord while sojourning in the great city of Kośāmbi in a grove called Kaņțaka was preaching the Doctrine in an assembly of 500 monks and a large number of bodhisattvas. At that time there lived in Kośāmbi a householder by the name of Sucandra. He was a man of tranquil mind, a man of great devotion. He had many sons and daughters and had to support a large number of relatives and servants. He approached the Lord and having saluted him sat in one corner. Seated there he addressed the Lord thus: “May I, Lord, be permitted to ask a question to the Lord who is a Tathāgata, an Arhat, a Samyak-sambuddha ?” Thus addressed the Lord said to Sucandra the householder: "You may ask, O householder, whatever you wish, I shall please you by answering your questions".
""Yes, Lord”, said Sucandra and asked: "How, O Lord, does a son or a daughter of a good family become rich again once he has
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
