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

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Story of Rāma in Jain Literature
Now in the age of Suvrata, the Tirthankara, Tadit-kesa ruled over Lanká and Ghanodadhi over Kişkindha. They were great friends. Once Tadit-kesa went to Vänaradvipa where in a park a monkey planted nail-marks on the breasts of his chlef queen. He got angry, struck the monkey with an arrow; the wounded monkey went to a Muni who instructed him in the 'Namaskära Mantra'. That monkey was then born as Abdht-kumara god. Tadit-Kesa's men harassed the monkeys at which this god was enraged. He began to harass the Råkşasas. Tadit-kesa propitiated him. They two then went to that Muni who narrated their past history. They, putting Sukeśa and Kiskindhi on the thrones of Lankā and Kişkindhā respectively, entered the order.
Now on the mountain Vaitādhya there was a town Ratha-nūpura where king Asantvega ruled. He had two sons Vijayasiṁha and Vidyut-vega. And on the same mountain there was another town Aditya-pura where Mandiramăli, another Vidyadhara king ruled. He had a daughter Srimalā, who in the Svayamvara chose Kişkindhi as her husband. Vijaya-simha was infuriated at this, fought a fierce fight against Kiskindhi' but was himself slain by Andhaka a younger brother of Kiskindhi. Then Srimālā and Kiskindhi went to their capital of Vanaradvípa. Now Asanivega in mighty rage invaded Kiskindha. Kiskindhi and his Raksasa friend Sukeśa went out to meet the enemy Andhaka was killed. The Vanaras and the Raksasas fled in all directions. Kiskindhi and Sukesa with their retinue went to Pätála-Lankā. Asanivega placed a Vidyadhara called Nirghata on the throne of Lankā and returned to Ratha-nupura. Once he became disgusted with Samsára, put his son Sahasrara® on the throne and became a monk.
Now in Pātāla-Lankā Sukeśa (ex-Räksasa lord of Lankā) and Indrani, his wife, gave birth to three sons Māli, Sumāli and Mālyavān. And of Kiskindhi and Srimālā were born Adityarāja and Rkşarāja, two mighty sons. Kişkindhi, on his way back from a visit to Mt. Meru in order to pay homage to the Arhats there came to Mt. Madhu; there he founded a new city Kişkindha-pura and lived there with his retinue. Now the sons of Sukeśa attacked Lankā, routed the king Nirghāta and Māli, the eldest of them ruled over Kişkindhá at the behest of Kişkindhi.
6.
For: Asahyo ht stri-Paràbhavah v. 46. Says Vijayasimha : 'They - the evil-doers had been formerly banished from the capital of Vaitādhya like Dasyus from a Surajya. Who brought them here who are a disgrace to one's noble family? So will I to-day kill them like beasts so that they could never come back here". The reference here is obviously to Srikantha who eloped with Srimāla, for Kiskindhi is a descendant of this family of Srikantha. The poet speaks of Vidyutvega as the second son of Asanivega. After the death of his elder brother he is entitled to the throne. Sahasrāra is obviously his younger brother. The poet does not mention what happens to Vidyutvega, the rightful heir to the throne. Vimala Suri takes care to mention that Vidyut-(or Tadit-) vega became an ascetic with his father. (Pc. VI, 205).