Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This is the English translation of the Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Charita (literally “The lives of the sixty-three illustrious People”), a Sanskrit epic poem written by Hemachandra in the twelfth century. The work relates the history and legends of important figures in the Jain faith. These 63 persons include: the twenty four tirthankaras , the t...
Notes on flying ascetics
Jaṅghācāraṇa and vidyācāraṇa (878) are two well-known types of flying ascetics, and are described in many places: Com. to Yog. I. 9., Aup. 15, p. 29., Bhag. 683-4., Pravac. 395-601, p. 168., ĀvaH. p. 47b. All these accounts agree on the main points, but do not give all the same details. The jaṅghācāraṇa acquires the art of flying by penance—according to the Aup. by fasts of four days’ each, and good conduct. He flies by use of his legs and supports himself on the sun’s rays. He goes to Rucakavaradvīpa or to the top of Meru in one jump, but he requires two for the return in both cases, because his power diminishes from negligence arising from zeal for practicing his art, with the resultant decrease in the time devoted to penance by which he acquired the art.
The vidyācāraṇa acquires the power of flying by his learning and by fasts of three days’ each. He flies by the support of learning. He goes to Mānuṣottara in one jump and arrives at Nandīśvara with the second, worships the shrines, and returns in one jump. It takes two jumps to reach the top of Meru, and only one to return. This is because learning becomes stronger with practice. The Aup., the Yog., and Pravac. mention many other kinds of cāraṇas.