________________
88
THE JAINA GAZETTE
Nami and Vinami the country containing 110 towns including the capitals of Gaganavallabha and Rathanupura Chakravala, taught them the vidyas of Gandharvas and Nagas, and in right ceremonious manner, installed them there, and said to the chiefs assembled." These are the commands of Lord Purudeva. These two kings Nami and Vinami shall be your over-lords, and you shall serve them loyally."
The Holy Sage after six months of austere tapas, went on charya to serve as a model for the world. He travelled through grama, nagara, Kheda, Kharwada, madamba,...... Some fools on seeing the Sage offered presents of earthly jewels and clothes, some carried dishes of delicious food as offering, some offered fair damsels and asked the Lord to marry them in the pandals erected for the purpose; some princes offered elephants and horses. Some with pity fell at His feet. and begged of Him to bathe, eat and depart. Thus the charya was obstructed, and another six months of tapas had to pass away.
Now Somaprabha of Kuruvamsa was ruling in Hastinapura. His brother was Sreyamsa-the Svayamprabhe of a former birth come down from Sarvarthasiddhi. He had dreamt early morning a dream which foretold that Adi Brahma would be on charya there on that day. The Sage arrived, and Somaprabha and Sreyamsa both went to receive Him. Sreyamsa was of course reminded of the great annadana made to the charana yugala in the Sarpasarovar in a past birth when he was Srimati and the Sage was Vajrajangha. Both the brothers poured the juice of sugar-cane into the hands of the Sage. The five wonders followed. The brothers gratefully fell at the Holy Feet, and said, "We are blessed by your kindness in coming here to bless us, to give us the satisfaction of having done our duty, to purify our home, and to sanctify our kuru-gotra in the world." The Lord said, 'Akshaya is your dana ' (Everlasting is the gift). From that day on, this Holy day is celebrated as Akskaya tritiya.
The brothers followed the Sage for way back unwilling to part from Him. back, saw the heaps of pearls and rubies Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
some distance, on His Reluctantly they came showered down from
www.umaragyanbhandar.com