Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

SR No.: 022775
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Saraswati Pustak Bhandar
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 278
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 27 MB

Page 193

The Rāmāyana Version of Dhanesvara Sūri
175
Vidyadhara-munis who had gone there to break their fast. Gods showered scented water. A bird Jatāyus smelling that scent arrived there. Hearing the sermon of the munis he remembered his past birth and stood by Sitā. (w, 168-181).
Now in the era of Ajita - the Jina there was a king Ghana-vāhana who ruled over Lankā (in the Rakşodvipa). Bhima, the lord of Rākṣasas, bestowed on him the Rākṣasi Vidyā and since then that (Vidyadhara-) dynasty came to be known as Raksasas. After many kings of this dynasty had passed, there ruled in Lankā, a king called Kirti-dhavala who gave Srikantha, a Vidyadhara, the kingdom of Kiskindhā (in the Kapi-dvipa). These Vidyādharas were known as Vānaras on account of the Vānara-dvipa where they lived. In course of time they acquired the lore called. Vānarāngatva-Kārini. After many kings had passed, in the era of Muni suvrata, the Jina, there was born the vānara prince Kişkindhi and in Lankā was born the Raksasa-Prince called sukeśa. Now aśanivega. the lord of the Vidyadharas defeated both Kiskindhi and sukeśa who thereafter sought shelter in Pâtāla-Lankā. There of Sukeśa and Indrāni were born three sons Māli, sumāli and Mālyavān and of Kişkindhi and śrimālā were born Adityarajā and Rksarajā. Kişkindha, who frequently visited Meru mountain to pay homage to the Jina shrines, once on his way back founded Kişkindha-pura on the Madhu-Parvata and stayed there. Now the sons of Sukesa attacked Lanka, killed the governor (lit. a servant) there appointed by Aśanivega, and Māli, the eldest son became the king of Lanka. Aditya-rāja became the ruler of Kişkindha. These two kings were great friends. Now Ašanivega begat Sahasrara who begat Indra. This Indra was very powerful, like Indra he appointed four Lokapālas, defeated the Vanara and räkşasa chiefs and drove them away into Patala-lankā. Now Sumāli who was living there, begat Ratnaśravā. He had a wife called Kaikasi. She gave birth to Daśānana who was so called because his face was reflected nine times in the Nava-Ratna-Hara (a wondrous necklace strung with nine gems) hung round his neck. Kaikasi gave birth to three more children: Kumbhakarna, Sūrpanakhā and Vibhỉsaņa. 16 Then we are told of the penance observed by Rāvana and his brothers, their Vidyā-sādhana, and the heroic exploits of Rāvana, the abduction of Sürpanakhā by Khara and his taking over the kingdom of Pātāla-Lankā, the birth of Virādha, the episode of Vālin', Sugriva's succession to the throne, the humbling of Rāvana's pride by Välin, the monk, Rāvana's great devotion to the Jinas, his receiving
16.
The Pc. names them as Bhānukarna, Candraņakha and Vibhisana (of course later on Pc speaks of Bhānu-as Kumbha-). The name Surpanakhā is well known in Válmiki's Rāmāyaṇa. This episode is a departure from the Pc: Knowing that Välin has grown very strong Rāvana asks him through an envoy to go and bow down to him (Ravana). Vālin would not bow down to any one except the Jina. Rāvana, enraged, invaded the Vanara territory. Válin fought with Rāvana for long, captured him under himarm-pit and moved round the four oceans. Then disgusted with his kingdom, he took Diksă after putting Sugriva on the throne. The Pc, does not mention this exploit of Vālin, who, according to Vimala, becomes a monk with a view to saving blood-shed.