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 37

Pauma-Cariya of Vimala Suri
nine gems of the wondrous string of pearls which his mother hung around his neck. 18 ( Acquisition of magic lores by Rāvana )
CANTO VIII :
Canto VIII tells us of Rāvana's marriage with Mandodari, the daughter of a Vidyādhara king called Maya. He, on one occasion marries by Gandharva form of marriage 6000 Vidyadhara damsels. Kumbhakaiņa marrjes Taditmājā, daughter of Mahodara - the king of Kumbhapura, Vibhişaņa the daughter of Vīra, the king of Jyotiḥprabha. Mandodari gives birth to two sons Indrajit and Meghavāhana. As Kumbnakarņa violated the territory of Vajśramana, the lord of Lankā, there was a hard battle between Rāvana and the lord of Lankā; the latter was routed. Vaiśramaņa accepted asceticism. Rāvana took possession of the wondrous Puspaka Vimāņa. On his way to Lankā he paid homage to the Jinālayas on the Sammeta' mountain." These Jinālayas were constructed by Harişeņa, the 10th Cakravartin.20 There he captured an elephant-jewel whom he named Bhuvanālamkāra. The canto relates Rāvana's fight with Yama whom he deseats Yama seeks Indra's shelter. Indra bestows on him the kingdom of 'Suraggiya' and leaves the matter there. Rava!a then enters in all pomp and glory, the city of Lanka. This canto specifically mentions that Kumbhakarna was really a pious man and that the heretics have misrepresented him in their accounts.21 (Rāvana enters the city of Lankā.)
CANTO IX :
Rāvana sends a messenger to Valin, the lord of Kişkindhi asking him to salute him (Rāvana) and offer his sister in marriage to him. Vālin owing to his vow of not saluting any one except the Jinas refuses to accede to his request. Rāvana invades Kişkindhi. Välin, although a match for Ravana takes to asceticism putting his brother Sugrīva on the throne. Sugriva complies with Rāvana's request. Once Rāyana's aerial car is found to be stopped on the Aştāpada mountain owing to the presence there of the monk Valin; Rāvana, enraged, lifts the mountain with a view to throwing it down along with Vālin in an ocean. In order to protect the Jain shrines Vālin presses with his thumb, the mountain down, Gods are pleased at Valin's performance.
18 .... gorunt quan 9 AISEA TIETTI 11
रयणकिरणेसु एत्तो मुहाइ नव निययवयणसरिसाई । हारे दिहाई फुडं तेण कयं दहमुहो नाम ।।
This is clearly a realistic interpretation of the epithet of Rāvana who in the Rāmāyaṇa (III. 9 f.) of Valmiki is a ten-headed monster and is therefore called Daśagriya 19 See v. 138 : 993 Halantat fa759914913Tall
दीसंति पुत्त एए जिणालया रयणविच्छुरिया ॥ . 20 Note : vv. 143-210 give his life-story, 21 Read vv. 58-60.