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
81 (of 93)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
91
coil. Below the Arhats come Acharyas, Upadhyayas, and Sadhus.
These three together with the Arhats and Siddhas, are known as the
Panchaparamesthins. Siddhas are the greatest souls but they are not
Tirthankaras. This rare distinction belongs only to those who have
attained the five kinds of knowledge and have in addition, preached
and taught the Jaina religion in its pure and original form. To have an
adequate idea of the nature and stature of Tirthankaras it is
necessary to know the mythical chronology of the Jains.
The Jains conceive time as moving point on the circumference of
an eternally revolving wheel. The point, obviously, has its downward
and upward movements. The downward movement, known as
Avasarpini, denotes a period of steady generation till the lowest point
is reached, when the upward trend known as Utsarpini starts with its
ultimate end in a blissful age.
iii) Myths of Tirthankaras
Avasarpini has six ages progressive degeneration; 1. Susama,
2. Susama 3. Susama Dasama, 4. Dasama Susama, 5. Dusama Susama,
6. Darama Dusama.
The twenty four Tirthankaras and their signs of Avasarpini are
as below:
1) Rishabhadeva - bull
2) Ajitanatha - elephant
3)
Sambhavanatha - horse
4) Abhinandana - monkey
