Sanskrit Manuscripts : Vāsudeva Baladeva no adhikāra

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Sanskrit Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This manuscript called <i>Vāsudeva Baladeva no adhikāra</i> provides systematic information on biodata relating to three categories of great men (<i>mahāpuruṣa</i>) of Jain mythology, i.e., the twelve Cakravartins (from beginning up to <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(6);return false;'>f.2v11</a>) followed by the nine Baladevas and the nine Vāsudevas. The data is organized according to entries (<i>dvāra</i>). For example, information about the following items is given for the Cakravartins: 1) name, 2) birth place, 3) father's name, 4) mother's name, 5) total life duration, 6) body size, 7) life duration as a prince, 8) life duration as a governor, 9) time spent in conquest of territories, 10) life duration as an emperor, 11) name of woman jewel, 12) life duration as a mendicant, 13) reaching final liberation. The final part of the manuscript gives the names, shapes and sizes of the seven jewels of the Vāsudevas. Such anonymous descriptions are meant as pedagogical or pious exercises to copy and memorize basic information about the Jain tradition. The script and layout are rather similar to those of <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-ADD-01266-00006/1'>Add. 1266.6</a>, <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-ADD-01266-00007/1'>Add. 1266.7</a><a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-ADD-01266-00009/1'>Add. 1266.9</a> which were written for Major Colonel William Miles (1780-1860) in Palanpur in 1822 CE.</p>