Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s3.t1.9

c14.s3.t1.9

The festival of Indra was celebrated with great pomp The *Uttarādhyayana* commentary refers to the celebration of this festival by king Dummuha in Kampillapura. The banner of Indra (*Indakeu*)¹⁸⁰ was raised amidst loud and auspicious cries, which was flagged with white banners adorned with a number of little bells, covered with beautiful wreaths and garlands, decorated with a string of jewels and decked with pendent mass of various fruits Then the dancing girls performed their dance, poetic compositions were sung, people danced, wonderful feats were shown by jugglers, betals were served, water mixed with camphor and saffron was sprinkled, large gifts were given and drums were sounded, and thus the seven days were passed in great rejoicing and revelry Then approached the full-moon day when the king worshipped the banner of Indra with great pomp and ceremony with flowers, garments,¹⁸¹ etc the deities Nāga Bhūya, Jakkha, Inda, Khanda, Rudda, Sua and Vesamana every caturdasī, astamī, amāvasa and pūrṇimā as a result of which she gave birth to a son, who was called Devadinna (given by gods)²¹⁸ The Jakkhas are also said to have cured diseases The Pinda Niyutti refers to the shrine of Manibhadra Jakkha which lay outside the town of Samilla in a garden and was furnished with an assembly-hall (sabhā) We are told that once small-pox broke out in the town and people prayed to the Jakkha In course of time the trouble subsided and the citizens besmeared the hall with cow-dung every astamī and other days²¹⁹ The Jakkhas were also believed to detect the unchastity of women²²⁰ The Jakkhas Punnabhadda and Manibhadda seem to be more popular to them offerings of food (mayāmpinda) were made²²¹