The mythology of the Jainas, whilst including many of the Hindu
divinities, to which it accords very inferior positions, is altogether
different in composition. It has all the appearance of a purely
constructed system. The gods are classified and subdivided into orders,
genera, and species; all are mortal, have their ages fixed, as well as
their abodes, and are mostly distinguished by cognizances _chihnas_
or _lâńchhaṇas_. Their Tîrthakaras, Tìrthamkaras, or perfected
saints, are usually known as twenty-four belonging to the present age. But
the mythology takes account also of a past and a future age or renovation
of the world, and to each of these aeons are assigned twenty-four
Tîrthakaras. But this is not all: in their cosmogony they lay down other
continents besides Jambûdvîpa-Bharata or that which we dwell in. These are
separated from Jambûdvîpa by impassable seas, but exactly like it in every
respect and are called Dhâtuki-kanda and Pushkarârddha; and of each of
these there are eastern, and western Bharata and Airàvata regions, whilst
of Jambûdvîpa there is also a Bharata and an Airâvata region: these make
the following ten regions or worlds:—
1. Jambûdvîpa-bharata-kshetra.
2. Dhâtukî-khaṇḍa pûrva-bharata.
3. Dhâtukî-khaṇḍa paśchima-bharata.
4. Pushkarârddha pûrva-bharata.
5. Pushkaravaradvîpa paśchima-bharata.
6. Jambûdvîpa airâvata-kshetra.
7. Dhâtukî-khaṇḍa pûrva-airâvata.
8. Dhâtukî-khaṇḍa paśchima-airâvata.
9. Pushkarârdhadvîpa pûrva-airâvata.
10. Puskarârddha paśchima-airâvata.
To each of these is allotted twenty four past, present and future Atîts or
Jinas,—making in all 720 of this class, for which they have invented
names: but they are only names. [Footnote: See _Ratnasâgara_, bh.
II, pp. 696—705.]
Of the Tîrthakaras of the present age or _avasarpini_ in the
Bharata-varsha of Jambûdvîpa, however, we are supplied with minute
details:—their names, parents, stations, reputed ages, complexions,
attendants, cognizances (_chihna_) or characteristics, etc. and these
details are useful for the explanation of the iconography we meet with in
the shrines of Jaina temples. There the images of the Tîrthakaras are
placed on highly sculptured thrones and surrounded by other smaller
attendant figures. In temples of the Śvetâmbara sect the images are
generally of marble—white in most cases, but often black for images of
the 19th, 2Oth, 22nd and 23rd Jinas. On the front of the throne or
_âsana_ are usually carved three small figures: at the proper right
of the Jina is a male figure representing the Yaksha attendant or servant
of that particular Jina; at the left end of the throne is the
corresponding female—or Yakshinî, Yakshî or Śâsanadevî; whilst in a
panel in the middle there is often another devî. At the base of the seat
also, are placed nine very small figures representing the _navagraha_
or nine planets; that is the sun, moon, five planets, and ascending and
descending nodes.
In the Jaina _Purânas_, legends are given to account for the
connexion of the Yakshas and Yakshîs with their respective Tîrthakaras:
thus, in the case of Pârśvanâtha, we have a story of two brothers
Marubhûti and Kamaṭha, who in eight successive incarnations were always
enemies, and were finally born as Pârśvanâtha and Sambaradeva
respectively. A Pâshaṇḍa or unbeliever, engaged in the
_panchâgni_ rite, when felling a tree for his fire, against the
remonstrance of Pârśvanâtha, cut in pieces two snakes that were in it;
the Jina, however restored them to life by means of the
_pañchamantra_. They were then re-born in Pâtâla-loka as
Dharaṇendra or Nâgendra-Yaksha and Padmâvatî-Yakshiṇî. When
Sambaradeva or Meghakumâra afterwards attacked the Arbat with a great
storm, whilst he was engaged in the _Kâyotsarga_ austerity—standing
immovable, exposed to the weather—much in the way that Mâra attacked
Śâkya Buddha at Bodh-gayâ, Dharaṇendra's throne in Pâtâla thereupon
shook, and the Nâga or Yaksha with his consort at once sped to the
protection of his former benefactor. Dharaṇendra spread his many hoods
over the head of the Arhata and the Yakshṅî Padmâvatî held a white
umbrella (_śveta chhatri_) over him for protection. Ever after
they became his constant attendants, just as Śakra was to Buddha. The
legend is often represented in old-sculptures, in the cave-temples at
Bâdâmi, Elura, etc., and the figure of Pârśva is generally carved with
the snake-hoods (_Śeshaphaṇi_) over him. [Footnote: _Cave
Temples_, pp. 491, 496; _Arch. Sur. Westn. India_, vol. I, p. 25
and pl. xxxvii; vol. V, p. 49; _Transactions, R. As. Soc._, vol. I,
p. 435. At Rânpur in Godwâr, in the temple of Rishabhanâtha is a finely
carved slab representing Pârśvanâtha in the Kâyotsarga position,
attended by snake divinities,—_Archit. and Scenery in Gujarât and
Râjputâna_, p. 21. The story has variants: conf. _Ind. Ant_. vol.
XXX, p. 302.]
Other legends account for the attachment of each pair of Śâsanadevatâs
to their respective Jinas.
The Śvetâmbaras and Digambaras agree generally in the details
respecting the different Tîrthakaras; but, from information furnished from
Maisur, they seem to differ as to the names of the Yakshiṇis attached
to the several Tîrthakaras, except the first and last two; they differ
also in the names of several of the Jinas of the past and the future
aeons. The Digambaras enlist most of the sixteen Vidyâdevis or goddesses
of knowledge among the Yakshiṇîs, whilst the other sect include
scarcely a third of them.
These Vidyâdevîs, as given by Hemachandra, are—(1) Rohiṇî; (2)
Prajñaptî; (3) Vajrasṛińkhalâ; (4) Kuliśânkuścâ—probably the
Ankuśa-Yakshî of the Śvetàmbâra fourteenth Jina; (5) Chakreśvarî;
(6) Naradattâ or Purushadattâ; (7) Kâli or Kâlîkâ; (8) Mahákâlî;
(9) Gaurî; (10) Gândhârî; (11) Sarvâstramahâjvâlâ; (12) Mânavî;
(13) Vairoṭyâ; (14) Achchhuptâ; (15) Mânasî; and (16) Mahâmânasikâ.
The images of the Tîrthakaras are always represented seated with their
legs crossed in front—the toes of one foot resting close upon the knee
of the other; and the right hand lies over the left in the lap. All are
represented exactly alike except that Pârśvanâtha, the twenty-third,
has the snake-hoods over him; and, with the Digambaras, Supârśva—the
seventh, has also a smaller group of snake hoods. The Digambara images are
all quite nude; those of the Śvetâmbaras are represented as clothed,
and they decorate them with crowns and ornaments. They are distinguished
from one another by their attendant _Yakshas_ and _Yakshiṇîs_
as well as by their respective _chihnas_ or cognizances which are
carved on the cushion of the throne.
All the Jinas are ascribed to the Ikshvâku family (_kula_)except the
twentieth Munisuvrata and twenty-second Neminâtha, who were of the
Harivaṃśa race.
All received _dîkshà_ or consecration at their native places; and all
obtained _jńâna_ or complete enlightenment at the same, except
Ṛishabha who became a _Kevalin_ at Purimatàla, Nemi at Girnâr, and
Mahâvîra at the Rijupàlukà river; and twenty of them died or obtained
_moksha_ (deliverance in bliss) on Sameta-Śikhara or Mount
Pârśvanâtha in the west of Bengal. But Ṛishabha, the first, died on
Ashṭâpada—supposed to be Śatruñljaya in Gujarât; Vâsupûjya died at
Champâpuri in north Bengal; Neminâtha on mount Girnâr; and Mahâvîra, the
last, at Pâvâpur.
Twenty-one of the Tîrthakaras are said to have attained Moksha in the
Kâyotsarga (Guj. _Kâüsagga_) posture, and Ṛishabha, Nemi, and
Mahâvira on the _padmâsana_ or lotus throne.
For sake of brevity the following particulars for each Arhat are given
below in serial order viz.:—
(1) The _vimâna_ or _vâhana_ (heaven) from which he
descended for incarnation.
(2) Birthplace, and place of consecration or _dîkshâ_.
(3) Names of father and mother.
(4) Complexion.
(5) Cognizance—_chihna_ or _lâñchhaṇa_.
(6) Height; and
(7) Age.
(8) Dîksha-vriksha or Bodhi tree.
(9) Yaksha and Yakshiṇî, or attendant spirits.
(10) First Ganadhara or leading disciple, and first
Âryâ or leader of the female converts.
I. Ṛishabhadeva, Vṛishabha, Âdinthâ or Adiśvara Bhagavân:—(I)
Sarvârthasiddha; (2) Vinittanagarî in Kośalâ and Purimatâla;
(3) Nâbhîrâjâ by Marudevâ; (4) golden—_varṇa_-, (5)the
bull,—_vṛisha, balada;_ (6) 500 poles or _dhanusha_;
(7) 8,400,000 pûrva or great years; (8) the Vaṭa or banyan tree;
(9) Gomukha and Chakreśvarî; (10) Pundarîka and Brahmî.
II. Ajitanâtha: (1) Vijayavimàna; (2) Ayodhyâ; (3) Jitaśatru by
Vijayâmâtâ; (4) golden; (5) the elephant—_gaja_ or _hasti_;
(6) 450 poles; (7)7,200,000 pûrva years; (8) Śâla—the Shorea robusta;
(9) Mahâyaksha and Ajitabalâ: with the Digambaras, the Yakshiṇî is
Rohiṇî-yakshî; (10) Śiṁhasena and Phâlgu.
III. Sambhavanâtha: (1) Uvarîmagraiveka;(2) Sâvathi or Śràvasti;
(3) Jitâri by Senâmâtâ; (4) golden; (5) the horse,—_aśva,
ghoḍa_; (6) 400 poles; (7) 6,000,000 pûrva years; (8) the
Prayâla—Buchanania latifolia; (9) Trimukha and Duritârî
(Digambara—Prajñaptî); (10) Châru and Śyâmâ.
IV. Abhinandana: (1) Jayantavimâna; (2) Ayodhyâ; (3) Sambararâjâ by
Siddhârthà; (4) golden; (5) the ape,—_plavaga, vânara_ or
_kapi_; (6) 350 poles; (7) 5,000,000 pûrva years; (8) the Priyaṇgu
or Panicum italicum; (9) Nàyaka and Kâlîkâ, and Digambara—Yaksheśvara
and Vajraśṛiṅkhalâ; (10) Vajranâbha and Ajitâ.
V. Sumatinâtha: (1) Jayantavimâna; (2) Ayodhyâ; (3) Megharajâ by
Maṅgalâ; (4) golden; (5) the curlew,—_krauṅcha_, (Dig.
_chakravakapâkshâ_—the Brâhmani or red goose); (6) 300 poles;
(7) 4,000,000 pûrva years; (8) Śâla tree; (9) Tuṁburu and Mahâkalî
(Dig. Purushadattâ); (10) Charama and Kâśyapî.
VI. Padmaprabha: (1) Uvarîmagraiveka; (2) Kauśambî; (3) Śrîdhara by
Susîmâ; (4) red (_rakta_); (5) a lotus bud—_padma, abja_, or
_kamala_; (6) 250 poles; (7) 3,000,000 pûrva years; (8) the Chhatrâ
—(Anethum sowa?); (9) Kusuma and Śyâmâ (Dig. Manovegâ or Manoguptî);
(10) Pradyotana and Ratî.
VII. Supârśvanâtha: (1) Madhyamagraiveka; (2) Varâṇaśî;
(3) Pratishṭharâjâ by Pṛithvî; (4) golden; [Footnote: The
Digambara describe the colours of the seventh and twenty-first Jinas as
_marakada_ or emerald coloured.] (5) the swastika symbol; (6) 200
poles; (7) 2,000,000 pûrva years; (8) the Śirîsha or Acacia sirisha;
(9) Mâtaṅga and Śântâ;—Digambara, Varanandi and Kâlî; (10) Vidirbha
and Somâ.
VIII. Chandraprabha: (1) Vijayanta; (2) Chandrapura; (3) Mahâsenarâjâ by
Lakshmaṇâ; (4) white—_dhavala, śubhra_; (5) the
moon—_chandrâ or śaśî_; (6) 150 poles; (7) 1,000,000 pûrva
years; (8) the Nâga tree; (9) Vijaya and Bhṛikuṭî:
Digambara—Śyâma or Vijaya and Jvâlâmâlinî; (10) Dinnâ and Sumanâ.
IX. Suvidhinâtha or Pushpadanta: (1) Ânatadevaloka;
(2) Kânaṇḍînagarî; (3) Sugrîvarâja by Râmârâṇî; (4) white;
(5) the Makara (Dig. the crab—_êḍi_); (6) 100 poles;
(7) 200,000 pûrva years; (8) the Śâlî; (9) Ajitâ and Sutârakâ:
Digambara—Ajitâ and Mahâkâlî or Ajitâ; (10) Varâhaka and Vâruṇî.
X. Śitalanâtha: (1) Achyutadevaloka; (2)Bhadrapurâ or Bhadilapura;
(3) Dṛi̐ḍharatha-râjâ by Nandâ; (4) golden; (5) the Śrîvatsa
figure: (Dig. _Śri-vriksha_ the ficus religiosa); (6) 90 poles;
(7) 100,000 pûrva years; (8) the Priyaṅgu tree; (9) Brahmâ and Aśokâ
(Dig. Mânavî); (10) Nandâ and Sujasâ.
XI. Śreyâṁśanâtha or Śreyasa: (1) Achyutadevaloka;
(2) Siṁhapurî; (3) Vishṇurâjâ by Vishṇâ; (4) golden; (5) the
rhinoceros—_khaḍga, geṅḍâ_: (Dig. Garuḍa); (6) 80 poles;
(7) 8,400,000 common years; (8) the Taṇḍuka tree; (9) Yaksheṭ and
Mânavî: Digambara—Îśvara and Gauri; (10) Kaśyapa and Dhâraṇî.
XII. Vâsupûjya: (1) Prâṇatadevaloka; (2) Champâpurî; (3) Vasupûjya by
Jayâ; (4) ruddy—_rakta_, Guj. _râtuṅ_; (5) the female
buffalo—_mahishî, pâdâ_; (6) 70 poles; (7) 7,200,000 common years;
(8) the Pâṭala or Bignonia suaveolens; (9) Kumâra and Chaṇḍâ
(Dig. Gândhârî); (10) Subhuma and Dharaṇî.
XIII. Vimalanâtha: (1) Mahasâradevaloka; (2) Kampîlyapura;
(3) Kṛi̐tavarmarâja by Śyâmâ; (4) golden; (5) a
boar—_śâkara, varâha_; (6) 60 poles; (7) 6,000,000 years;
(8) the Jâmbu or Eugenia jambolana; (9) Shâṇmukha and Viditâ (Dig.
Vairôṭî); (10) Mandara and Dharâ.
XIV. Anantanâtha or Anantajit: (1) Prâṇatadevaloka; (2) Ayodhyâ;
(3) Siṁhasena by Suyaśâḥ or Sujasâ; (4) golden; (5) a
falcon—_śyena_ (Dig. _bhallûka_ a bear); (6) 50 poles;
(7) 3,000,000 years; (8) the Aśoka or Jonesia asoka; (9) Pâtâla and
Ankuśâ (Dig. Anantamatî); (10) Jasa and Padmâ.
XV. Dharmanâtha: (1) Vijayavimâna; (2) Ratnapurî; (3) Bhânurâjâ by
Suvritâ; (4) golden; (5) the thunderbolt—_vajra_; (6) 45 poles;
(7) 1,000,000 years; (8) Dadhîparṇa tree (Clitoria ternatea?);
(9) Kinnara and Kandarpâ (Dig. Mânasî); (10) Arishṭa and Ârthaśivâ.
XVI. Śântinâthâ: (1) Sarvârthasiddha; (2) Gajapura or Hastinapurî;
(3) Viśvasena by Achirâ; (4) golden; (5) an antelope—_mṛiga,
haraṇa, hullĕ_, (6)40 poles; (7) 100,000 years; (8) the Nandî or
Cedrela toona; (9) Garuḍa and Nirvâṇî (Dig. Kimpurusha and
Mahâmânasî); (10) Chakrâyuddha and Suchî.
XVII. Kunthtinâtha: (1) Sarvârthasiddha; (2) Gajapura; (3) Sûrarâjâ by
Śrîrânî; (4) golden; (5) a goat—_chhâga_ or _aja_; (6) 35
poles; (7) 95,000 years; (8) the Bhilaka tree; (9) Gandharva and Balâ
(Dig. Vijayâ); (10) Sâmba and Dâminî.
XVIII. Aranâtha: (1) Sarvârthasiddha; (2) Gajapura; (3) Sudarśana by
Devîrâṇî; (4) golden; (5) the Nandyâvarta diagram, (Dig.
_Mina_—the zodiacal Pisces); (6) 30 poles; (7) 84,000 years;
(8) Âmbâ or Mango tree; (9) Yaksheṭa and Dhaṇâ (Dig. Kendra and
Ajitâ); (10) Kumbha and Rakshitâ.
XIX. Mallinâtha: (1) Jayantadevaloka; (2) Mathurâ; (3) Kumbharâjâ by
Prabhâvatî; (4) blue—_nîla_; (5) a jar—_kumbham, kalaśa_ or
_ghaṭa_; (6) 25 poles; (7) 55,000 years; (8) Aśoka tree;
(9) Kubera and Dharaṇapriyâ (Dig. Aparâjitâ); (10) Abhikshaka and
Bandhumatî.
XX. Munisuvrata, Suvrata or Muni: (1) Aparâjita-devaloka;
(2) R[a`]jagṛiha; (3) Sumitrar[a`]jâ by Padmâvatî;
(4) black—_śyâma, asita_; (5) a tortoise—_kûrma_;
(6) 20 poles; (7) 30,000 years; (8) the Champaka, Michelia champaka;
(9) Varuṇa and Naradattâ, (Dig. Bahurûpiṇî); (10) Malli and
Pushpavatî.
XXI. Naminâtha, Nimi or Nimeśvara: (1) Prâṇatadevaloka; (2) Mathurâ;
(3) Vijayarâjâ by Viprârâṇî; (4) yellow; (5) the blue
water-lily—_nîlotpala_, with the Digambaras, sometimes the Aśoka
tree; (6) 15 poles; (7) 10,000 years; (8) the Bakula or Mimusops elengi;
(9) Bhṛikuṭi and Gandhârî, (Dig. Châmuṇḍî); (10) Śubha and
Anilâ.
XXII. Neminâtha or Arishṭanemi: (1) Aparâjita; (2) Sauripura
(Prákrit—Soriyapura) and Ujjinta or Mount Girnâr; (3) Samudravijaya by
Śivâdevi; (4) black—_śyâma_; (5) a conch,—_śaṅkha_;
(6) 10 poles; (7) 1000 years; (8) the Veṭasa; (9) Gomedha and Ambikâ:
with the Digambaras, Sarvâhṇa and Kûshmâṇḍinî; (10) Varadatta and
Yakshadinnâ.
XXIII. Pârśvanâtha: (1) Prâṇatadevaloka; (2) Varâṇasî and
Sameta-Śikhara; (3) Aśvasenarâja by Vâmâdevî; (4) blue—_nîla_;
(5) a serpent—_sarpa_; (6) 9 hands; (7) 100 years; (8) the Dhâtakî
or Grislea tomentosa; (9) Pârśvayaksha or Dharaṇendra and Padmâvatî;
(10) Âryadinna and Pushpachûḍâ.
XXIV. Śri-Mahâvîra, Vardhamâna or Vîra, the Śramaṇa:
(1) Prâṇ atadevaloka; (2) Kuṇḍagrâma or Chitrakûṭa, and
Ṛijupâlukâ; (3) Siddhârtharâja, Śreyânśa or Yaśasvin by
Triśalâ Vidchadinnâ or Priyakâriṇî; (4) yellow; (5) a
lion—_keśarî-simha_; (6) 7 hands or cubits; (7) 72 years; (8) the
_śala_ or teak tree; (9) Mâtaṁga and Siddhâyikâ;
(10) Indrabhûti and Chandrabâlâ.
The Tirthakuras may be regarded as the _dii majores_ of the Jainas,
[Footnote: For an account of the ritual of the Svetâmbara sect of Jainas,
see my account in the _Indian Antiquary_, vol. XIII, pp. 191-196.]
though, having become Siddhas, emancipated from all concern, they can have
no interest in mundane affairs. They and such beings as are supposed to
have reached perfection are divided into fifteen species:
1. Tîrthakarasiddhas;
2. Atîrthakarasiddhas;
3. Tîrthasiddhas;
4. Svaliṅgasiddas;
5. Anyaliṅgasiddhas;
6. Striliṅgasiddhas;
7. Purushaliṅgasiddhas;
8. Napuṁsakaliṅgasiddhas;
9. Gṛihaliṅgasiddhas;
10. Tîrthavyavachchhedasiddhas;
11. Pratyekabuddhasiddhas;
12. Svayambuddhasiddhas;
13. Ekasiddas;
14. Anekasiddhas;
15. Buddhabodhietasiddllas.
[Footnote: _Jour. Asiat_. IXme Ser. tom. XIX, p. 260.]
But the gods are divided into four classes, and each class into several
orders: the four classes are:—
I. Bhavanâdhipatis, Bhavanavâsins or Bhaumeyikas, of which there are ten
orders, viz.—
1. Asurakumâras;
2. Nâgakumâras;
3. Taḍitkumâras or Vidyutkumâras;
4. Suvarṇa- or Suparnaka-kumâras;
5. Agnikumâras;
6. Dvîpakumâras (Dîvakumâras);
7. Udadhikumâras;
8. Dikkumâras;
9. Pavana- or Vâta-kumâras;
10. Ghaṇika- or Sanitakumâras.
II. Vyantaras or Vâṇamantaras, who live
in woods are of eight classes:—
1. Piśâchas;
2. Bhûtas;
3. Yakshas;
4. Râkshasas;
5. Kimnaras;
6. Kimpurushas;
7. Mahoragas;
8. Gandharvas.