Jinvijay Muni Abhinandan Granth

SR No.: 012033
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Jinvijayji Samman Samiti Jaipur
Publication Year: 1971
Total Pages: 462
Language: Hindi, English
Classification: Smruti_Granth & Articles
File Size: 13 MB

Page 305

Jaina Iconography-A Brief Survey
211 (Prajanapti), Gori (Gauri), Vijjumukhi (Vidyutmukhi), Mahajala (Mahajavala), Bahurupa, and so on.
In the Harivamsa it is stated that of the Vidyadharas, the following eight classes, namely, Manus. Mänavas, Kausikas, Gaurikas, Gandharvas, Bhumitundakas Mülaviryās and Sā kukas belonged to the Aryas, Adityas or Gandharvas while the other eight, namely, the Mätanga, the Panduka, the Kala, the Svapāka, the Parvata the Vamšā laya, the Pandumüla and the Viksamüla classes belonged to the Daityas, the Pannagas or the Mātaigas.1 This is important as it suggests a new line of investigation into the origin and development of certain Tantric practices and deities in India.
Besides the lists of the sixteen classes of Vidyadharas, the author of the Harivamśà gives a list of Mahā vidyās and states that the following vidyās. belonging to the above-mentioned sixteen classes, are assigned the chief position amongst all vidyās : Prajnapti, Robini, Angarini, Maha-Gauri, Gauri, Mahāśvetā, Māyuri, Arya-Kuşmanda-devi, Acyutā. Aryavati, Gandhari, Nirystih, Bhadra-Kali, MahaKali, Kali, Kalamukhi.
The list is iinportant in as much as, besides being one of the earliest known complete lists of the sixteen vidyàs available to us, it differs largely from the somewhat later lists supplied by writers of both the sects. According to these later traditions, the sixteen Mahā vidyās are: (1) Rohiņi, (2) Prajnapti, (3) Vajrasřnkhala, (4) Vajrā nkuśa, (5) Cakresvari, (S've.) or Jambunadā (Dig.), (6) Naradattā or Puruşadatta, (7) Kāli, (8) Maha-Käli (9) Gauri (10) Gandhāri, (11) Sarvastra. Mahājvālā (S've.) Jvālämukhi (Dig.) (12) Manavi, (13) Vairotyä (S've.) Vairoti (Dig.), (14) Acchupta (S'Ve.) Acyuta (Dig.), (15) Mänasi and (16) Maha-Mānasi. :3
As yet hardly any sculptures or paintings of Mahā-vidyas in the Digambara tradition have been brought to light but future explorations are likely to be rewarded with success. Amongst the S'vetämbaras, a very valuable set of sixteen Mahavidyäs is preserved in the dome of the beautiful Sabhämandapa of the Vimala Vasahi, Delvada, Mt. Abu. This Sabhamandapa was built by Pithvipala, a minister ot Kumärapäla, in c. V. S. 1204-c. 1147 A.D.4 The set of Vidyadevis in the Sabhā. mandapa of the Lunavasahi is incomplete and a few of the sculptures are modern crude copies of some old mutilated ones. A palm-leat ms of seven different texts bound in one volume, preserved in the Jaina Bhandara at Chhäni near Baroda.
3.
1. Harivamsa of Jinasena, 22. vv. 56-60. 2 Harivamsa, 22. vy. 61-66
Adhidhana-Cintamani, 2. 152-154; Pratisthäsäroddhära, p. 56, vy. 33-36. For some photographs of Vidyadevis in Vimala Vasahi, etc. see, Shah, U.P., Studies in Jaina Art, figs, and Iconography of the Sixteen Jaina Mahā vidräs, Journal of the Indian Society of Oriental Ari, Vol. XV, pl. XIII-XVI.