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 38

Story of Râma in Jain Literature
He then withdraws the pressure. Rāvana, who is now free, pays homage to the monk, and sings the glory of the Jinas. Dharana, the lord of the Nägas is pleased with Rāvana's devotion and bestows on him an Amogha-Vijaya Sakti. The canto concludes saying Valin attained Liberation. ( Valin attains Nirvana )
CANTO X :
Tărâ was the daughter of a Vidyādhara King. Sahasagati, a Vidyadhara prince and Sugriva seek her hand in marriage. Knowing from a monk that Sähasagati's span of life was short, Tārā's father gives her in marriage to Sugriva. Angada and Jayapanda are born of her. Sāhasagati, who is consumed by passion of love for Tarā, now begins to attain a lore for changing one's form. Rāvana sets out to conquer all the world. Kharadūşıņa, the lord of Pājala-Lankā, and Sugriva accompany Rāvana in his march. Rāvana comes across the river Narmadā, enters it to have a bath. Now there was a king, Sahasrakirana by name, of Māheśvara. He, with his 1000 ladies was enjoying water-sports in that river. His water sports come in the way of Rāvana who was worshipping the idols of Jinas on the bank of the river after he had finished his bath. Knowing this Rāvana sends his army to punish the guilty. His army was, however, defeated. Ra/ana then himself marches against the king, defeats him and takes him prisoner. A monk, who was the father of Sahasrakirana in his grhasthā śrama, intervenes and tells Rāvana to free him. Rāvana agrees to his request. Rāvana is prepared to look upon Shasrakirana as his brother and offer him his sister-in-law, called Svayamprabha. He declines and enters the ascetic order. He sends a message to Anaranya, the lord of Ayodhyā, informing him, of his dikșa. He too, entrusting the kingdom to his son, called Dasaratha, enters the order. (March of Råvana and Sugriva and entering the Ascetic order by Sahasrakirana and Anaranya.)
"CANTO XI :
Ravana establishes sovereignty over the whole world; and being a great devotee of the Jinas, he restores ruined Jain shrines.93 The canto tells of the Origin of
22 In this canto we are told that Kharadüşana abducts Candranakhā; Ravana on knowing it is
entaned, wants to kill the ruffian, Mandodati interventes in the interests of her sister-in-law and Rāvana is paeified. Kharadusana driving away Candrodara, a Vidyadhara who ruled over Patala-Lankā, usurps that kingdom. Now after the death of Candrodara, his pregnant wife with no shelter left, wanders in forests. She gives birth to a son called Viradhita. This Viradhita - later on we are told in canto 45, vv. 1-4-goes to help Laksmana, and with the áld of the two brothers hie wins back his kingdom of Pātāla-Lankā. Vālmiki (in Aranya
kända) tells of Virādha a man-eating giant that was killed by Rāma. 23 "Ravana defeats and makes the kings his vassals, and not kills them. Kings seldom die at
his hands. Unlike the Rāvana of Valmiki this Ravana has great reverence towards Jain ascetics. He restores ruined Jain-shrines and stops animal sacrifices. All this certainly demonstrates his dobility and largeness of heart.