Proceedings and papers of National Seminar on Jainology

Author(s): Yugalkishor Mishra
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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For our discussion, we shall refer to the dwellings of Jyotiskas which includes planets2, the subject of our discussion :
(1)The Suns (2) The Naksatras (3) The Planets (4) The host of Stars
Being a polysectarian cult, individual icon of the Navagrahas is polymorphon particularly in relation to weapon and vehicle as per the canonical dogmas of each sect and inter-sect divisions. In our case, we are concerned with the great divide of the Jainism into Svetambara and Digambara.
Basing himself on the following texts, Bhattacharya3 has brought out the salient features of the Navagrahas from the point of Jaina Iconography: (1) Acāradinakara Śvetambara texts
(2) Nirvana Kalikā
(3) Pratistha Sāraddhara
Digambara text.
Let us briefly discuss these features in relation to each icon :
Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin No. 8
(A) Surya
(1) According to Ācāradinakara, Surya with lotuses in both hands rides on a chariot driven by seven horses:
(2) Pratiṣṭha Sāraddhara's description is somewhat simpler but the symbol is lotus in both hands.
(B) Candra
(1) Nirvana Kalika describes Candra as driving a chariot driven by 10 white horses (dasaśvetāśva), and Acāradinakara assigns an urn of nectar (sudhākumbha) to be held by Candra.
(2) Pratiṣṭha Sāraddhara does not assign any weapon.
(C) Mangala
(1) Acāradinakara
(2) Nirvana Kalikā
(1) Acara Vehicle
=
=
:
Weapon shovel in hands (Kuddālahasta) Vehicle Meṣa
Rt. upper : Spear(Śakti) Lt. hands : Śūla (Trident)
Gadā (club)
(3) Pratistha Saraddhara: Weapon: Trident (Sulabhrit)
(D) Budha:
Deity is four-armed:
Rt. lower : Varadamudrā
:
Symbol: Book in hands (Pustaka) : Sw ana (Kaln hanisavahana)