________________
rituals, recited two verses in a melodious tone and prostrated to iva in front of everyone's eyes. The meaning of the verses was - O Lord! Different philosophies may call you with different names, at different times but I prostrate to thee, the universally venerated Lord, if you are the unblemished one free of karmic flaws. Irrespective of whether he is called Brahm , Vi u, Some vara or Jine vara," I pay obeisance to that Lord who had totally obliterated the seeds of transmigration and triumphed over qualities like passion, envy, etc”.
On completion of worship byc rya Hemacandra S ri, Kum rap la worshipped Lord iva as per the method prescribed by B haspati and liberally gave many types of alms. Later, he entered into the sanctum sanatorium (garbha g aha) with c rya. There he sat composed and humbly questioned, “ c rya Deva! Each philosophy, based on its beliefs and doctrines, describes its cherished deity in different forms. As such, it creates confusion about the real form of the 'absolute god'. So in this sacred place I openly express my internal emotions and I beseech you to explain the true form of God and true form of religion which can grant liberation."
c rya r thought for a while and said, “Your Majesty! I will not talk about epics and different philosophies. I will show you Some vara so that you yourself can listen and understand the path of liberation directly from him”.
After that he sat in a lotus posture (Padm sana), engrossed deep in meditation and invoked Lord iva. At once iva manifested as a resplendent ascetic with a halo of extraordinary sanctity and glory on the icon of iva (limga). Kum rap la prostrated before him and asked, “O Lord of the Universe! My eyes are sanctified beholding thee. And now I beseech thee to sanctify my ears too with thy pious commandment".
The next moment he heard the Lord's pious voice saying, "O King! This sage Hemacandra S ri is the incarnation of all the deities. He is such an omniscient theologian who perceives the past, future and the present as if one sees the pearl in his palm. Whichever way he guides you, that is the true and definite path to liberation”.
Thus saying Lord iva disappeared Kum rap la was overwhelmed with joy. He came to know the rectitude of crya r Hemacandra through his
138