Shrimad Yashovijayji Upadhyay
02. A Grand Picture Of A Tirthamkara Deva With His Eight Divine Accompaniments (Maha-Pratiharya)
This is picture of an idol of a Tirthamkara Deva. Tirthamkaras after becoming omniscient are worshipped life-long with eight divine accompaniments (Maha-Pratiharya). This attractive and beautiful picture is specially drawn to give a clear idea of these divine accompaniments to all. The following are the names of these divine accompaniments:-
- A throne
- A halo
- Three divine umbrellas
- A chowrie (a fan-like instrument to show Thirthamkara’s greatness)
- The Asoka tree
- A shower of flowers
- A drum
- Celestial notes (music).
According to the science of Karmas of Jainism, the souls of Tirthamkaras are becoming rich with great merits because of wearing away of the four ghati Karmas e. g. Jnanavaraniya, Darsanavaraniya, Mohaniya and Amtaraya. So they naturally become worth worshipping to the gods like Indra.
Kayotsarga and Padmasana are considered to be the best asanas for spiritual apprenticeship and SIDDHI-complete spiritual bliss. When Tirthamkaras attain salvation, they attain it in a position of any one of these two asanas. So an idol of a Tirthamkara is prepared in either of these two asanas. There is no tradition to prepare it in a sleeping-position. This is the picture of Adiswara Bhagavan but it can be used to represent any Thirthamkara by changing its name and Lamichana - the mark of identification.
