Jaina Mythology

Summary

J. Burgess surveys the intricate cosmology and pantheon of Jain mythology and demonstrates how it differs fundamentally from Brahmanical and Buddhist systems. Although many Hindu divinities appear in Jain stories, they are relegated to subordinate roles and the mythology is built around mortal gods who are part of the cycle of birth and death. The twenty‑four Tirthankaras of the present age, along with thousands of past and future Jinas, are the primary focus. Burgess explains that Jain cosmographers conceive of other continents beyond Jambudvipa‑Bharata, such as Dhātakikhandā and Puskararddhā, each divided into eastern and western Bharat and Airavata regions. In this cosmology there are ten regions or worlds and each has twenty‑four Jinas, making 720 Jinas in all. He lists biographical details for each of the twenty‑four Tirthakaras of the current age—where they descend from, their place of birth and consecration, parents, colour, emblems, height, age, Bodhi tree, attendant Yakṣa and Yakṣiṇī, and their chief disciples. Legends about Yakṣas and Yakṣiṇīs illustrate how they came to be associated with specific Jinas, such as the story in which Marubhūti and Kamatha reincarnate as Parśvanātha and his protective Yakṣa Dharanendra. The article discusses differences between Śvetāmbara and Digambara iconography, noting that Digambaras depict sky‑clad Jinas and assign additional Vidyādevīs among the Yakṣiṇīs. Burgess divides the gods into four classes—Bhavanādhipatis who live under the earth, Vyantaras or forest spirits, Jyotiskas inhabiting heavenly bodies, and Vaimānika gods living in the heavenly kalpas. Each class is subdivided into numerous orders, and the article lists them in detail (e.g. Asura‑kumāras, Nāga‑kumāras, Pisācas, Yakṣas, Graiveyakas and Anuttaras). Above these beings is Siddha‑loka, the pure realm of perfected souls who have transcended samsara. The piece also notes the seven hells where beings suffer according to their karma. By systematically cataloguing the Jinas, attendant deities and classes of gods, Burgess shows that Jain mythology is an organised cosmological system rather than a loose collection of legends.