Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s3.t1.16

c14.s3.t1.16

So far the beneficial aspect of the Jakkhas²²² has been traced but they could also be evilly disposed They caused trouble to the people and often were satisfied after killing them We hear of Sūlapāṇi Jakkha who used to kill persons who stayed in his shrine It is said that his shrine was built on the bones of the dead bodies²²³ Surappiya was another Jakkha who was painted every year and after the painting was over, the person who painted him was killed by the deity²²⁴ A Jakkha is mentioned who was satisfied after feeding the Jain sādhus at night and thus violating their vows.²²⁵ Then obsession by spirits (Jakkhaggaha)²²⁶ played an important part in the life of the people We have already referred to the garland-maker Ajjunava, who obsessed by the Jakkha, killed six gangsters and his own wife with the iron mace which he held in his hand²²⁷ The Jain monks and the nuns too were obsessed by the Jakkhas and were treated by exorcism (Bhūyavijjā)²²⁸ Then the north and east quarters were believed to be the haunting places of the Jakkhas²²⁹ Nandapura was supposed to be the abode of the Jakkhas²³⁰ Then in Golla a sickly person was not exposed owing to the fear of a Jakkhinī²³¹ Another strange belief regarding the Jakkhas was that they enjoyed sexual intercourse with the girls The Uttarādhyayana cūrṇi refers to a certain Brāhmaṇa who got enamoured of his own daughter He sent a woman to her as go-between, who explained her that it was customary in their family to have a sexual union with the *Jakkhas*.²³² We have already referred to the *Ganditindu*²³³ *Jakkha*, who is said to have had sexual intercourse with the princess Bhaddā. Then there were low types of the *Jakkhas*. The *Ādambara Jakkha*, also known as *Hiraḍikka Jakkha*, and *Ghantika Jakkha*²³⁴ were believed to be the *Jakkhas* of the *Mātangas* and the *Dombas* respectively. The shrine of the former was built on the bones of human beings who had died recently.²³⁵ The *Ghantika Jakkha* was believed to whisper in the ear when questioned.²³⁶