Jain Legend Vol 1

SR No.: 007594
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 367
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

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compassionate. When king Ghanaratha took initiation, Megharatha became the king. He performed his religious duties even as a king.
One day, observing a vrata he was in his pau adhahall (hall of observing austerities). A pigeon / dove came and fell on his lap, trembling with fear. The king lovingly ran his fingers over its back, and reassured it. Then a hawk came and demanded that the dove be given to it. The king expressed inability to return someone who had taken his refuge. To this the hawk said – “I cannot stay alive without fresh flesh. This way, protecting the dove you are forcing me to die. If you are truly a great person, protect both.” Hearing this king Megharatha said - "if it is so, I shall give you my flesh equivalent to the dove, eat it and let the dove go.” A weighing scale was brought. On one side the king placed the dove and on the other side of the scales he started to place flesh sliced form his body. When the dove's scale did not move at all, the king gladly placed himself on the other side. Seeing this unique sacrifice the hawk presented itself in its true form and said – "I disbelieved Indra and caused you pain. Please forgive me. Your dedication and compassion are worth emulating.”
After sometime, Megharatha again took the a ama-tapa (fast) in his fasting hall. Indra of na respectfully bowed to him from the heaven but his consorts, the Indr S, wished to test his determination. Entering the fasting - hall they tried in various ways to disturb Megharatha's concentration but failed to do so and accepting their defeat, left. At the end of the fast when the king resolved to take initiation he left the kingdom to his son and took initiation along with many companions from the monk Dhanaratha. In the past by showing compassion towards living beings and from austerities and restraints, having stopped the influx of karmas, he gained the T rthamkaran makarma. At the end, with a fast unto death, he became a god of 33 s garas life-span in the Sarv rthasiddha palace.
Lord mtin tha's father was the king of Hastin pura, Vi vasena. His mother was the queen of Vi vasena, Acir dev. The soul of Megharatha descended from Sarv rthasiddha vim na and entered queen Acir 's womb on the seventh day of the dark fortnight of Bh drapada under Bhara constellation. The queen saw the auspicious 14 dreams that night. At the end of her pregnancy at the midnight hour on the 13th day of
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