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The garland it wore was of unfading flowers. He secured it in a wooden box. He once saw a few merchants struggling desperately during a terrible storm on the sea, which was going on now for six months. He now had the ability to calm the storm and bring the sailors and merchants safely to shore. When they landed he gave them the box containing the image and told them that it was the image of the supreme god of the gods that they would open it only in his name. The merchants proceeded further on the journeys and finally landed at Vitabhaya, the capital of King Udayana, whom they gave the box. Udavana's court was devoted to Brahmanic religion and none there could open it, since they tried it in the name of either Rudra or Govinda. Even an axe could not break it open. None of the Brahmanic gods were effective enough in spite of all the attributes they had gained. At this juncture Prabhavati, the queen of Udayana who had become a lay Jain disciple, came there and when she was asked to try her hand she said:
"The Arhat, who is free from love, hatred and delusion, who knows everything, who is endowed with the eight miraculous powers, who wears the miraculous form of the supreme god of gods, may he grant me a sight of himself."
She wielded the axe and the box opened. The image of Vardhamana complete in every limb, bedecked with an unfading garland of flowers was in it. Prabhävati who was extremely happy, recited:
Hail, hail to thee, knower of all things, lovely to behold, thou who art never to be born again, heart's joy of the pious people, miraculous jewel that yields the world all its wishes, teacher of the universe, Victor, Hero,
spotless one :
The religion of the Jina spread in the kingdom of Udayana. In the Queen's quarters in the palace a sanctuary was built and the Queen worshipped the image three times a day after bath. One day the queen danced and the king accompanied her on the vi nā but suddenly the plectrum of the vi nā dropped from his hand and he looked very much alarmed. The queen became terribly enraged and she asked the king why he stopped. First he would not say but
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| SR No. | 006762 |
| Book Title | Treasury of Jain Tales |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | V M Kulkarni |
| Publisher | Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre |
| Publication Year | 1994 |
| Total Pages | 468 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 17 MB |