________________ Siri Sirivalakaba AUTOTE, ferret FARA ATTUTSI": These Nine Dignitios constitute the very essence of the religion of the excellent Jinas.' Thus theirs is a very unique place in the Jaina worship and devotion, and the incessant flow of their eternal adoration, from ancient times, has remained unfinching even up to-day. This is quite evident from the two great religious festivals,which the Jains (especially the orthodox) so devoutly observe very magnificently and .reve rentially even to-day, in the months of Chaitra and Ashwin, --known as the tests' when they keep what are known as Ayambila' fasts (which consist in taking rough (ra) and tasteless (3) food devoid of ghee, sugar, oil, milk and all such tasty articles of eating which create passions, and which we generally take every day-and this food, too, is to be taken only once a day). It is, therefore, essential for us, as students of the Jaina Literature, to study properly all these nine great and important Di'gnities, and have a clear conception of all of them, so that we may have a fair idea of what constitutes the essence of the Jaina Religion. The Nine Dignities already mentioned above are (1) after (2) fera (3) anara (4) 3976014 (5) i aig (6) FIAT (7) TT (8) afts (9). a4. The
