Essay name: Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas
Author:
Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas by exploring the significance of the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu as depicted in various ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. The research also investigates the social, political, philosophical, and religious impact.
Chapter 2 - Varieties of Myths
79 (of 93)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Upper region is subdivided into two; kalpa and kalpathitha. The
dimensions of kalpa has been ascertained but not of kalpathitha. The
former region is situated immediately above the middle region, and is
again subdivided into sixteen Devalokas. They are:
Saudharma, Aisana, Sanatkumara, Mahendra, Brahma, Brahmottara,
Lautaka, Satara Sahasrara, Ananta, Pr膩峁嘺ta, Arana and Achyuta.
The kalpathitha portion is divided into nine Graiveyikas and five
Pancha Anuttaras.
The better class of the gods live in the upper region. All gods of
the upper region are not of the same importance. They are broadly
divided into Jyotishi and Vimanavasi, gods of the brighter region and
of the sky. Each of these again is subdivided into many. While this
classification is based on the regions as they live. There are noble and
servile castes among the gods. Some gods are indifferent to religion
and turn a deaf ear to the sermons of the great; others are of the
religious bent of mind attentive to the sermons of the sages. As in
Hindu mythology, Indra is the king of the gods, according to the Jaina
conceptions too.
ii) Myths of Transmigration of Souls
Like the Buddhists and Hindus, the Jains attach great
importance to karma, transmigration of souls is believed in as a
corollary of karma. Man though in one sense, its slave, is also master
of karma, as much as he can completely liberate himself from its
shackles by following the Jaina way of life.
