Essay name: Vasudevahindi (cultural history)
Author:
A. P. Jamkhedkar
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute Pune
This essay is an English study of the Vasudevahindi reflecting cultural history and traditions of the life of people in ancient and medieval India during the 6th century. The Vasudevahimdi is a romantic and religious tale that revolves around the wanderings of Vasudeva (a former Jain monk) and religious teachings in the guise of love stories, a common theme of poetry in Jainism.
Appendix 1 - Description of Vidyadharas and magical lores
8 (of 118)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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In the story of Nami and Vinami of the Vh (P)
given above it has already been made clear that the
Vidyadharas worshipped Usabha, and Dharana, the king of
Nagas. In the same story it is related how after attaining
conciousness, Amitagati bathes in a pond and pays salutations
in the direction of worth%3B it is not made clear in the story
I
as to whom he adored by such an act.
Reference is also
made to a Vidyadhara couple which visited the mt. Sammeta to
pay reverence to Jaina monks ².
2 The Vh(M) gives more details about the festivals
celebrated by the Vidyadharas. Vidyadharas celebrated an
aá¹á¹hahiya-mahima on the simanaga mountain in celebration of
r
investiture of the loves. The loves, according to the Vh(M), were
first given on this mountain (vijja-padhamapayana-bhumi
3 The description of the celebration of this festival is
similar to that of the mahakomudi celebration held in Savatthi.
Another festival was that held in honour of Samjayamla
the king of serpents (i.e. Dharaṇa) the confluence of five
1. Vh(P), 139; See also the story of Jayamta and
Samjayamta; Vh(P), 251-253.
2. Ibid., 214-15.
3. Vh(M), I 26a; The Vh(P) [F.163-64] which describes the
incident of the investiture does not refer to the place.
