Jain Journal 1971 01

SR No.: 520021
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1971
Total Pages: 54
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 52

JANUARY, 1971
mountain, and remained on the shore of lake Kunda. An elephant named Mahindhara, coming here to drink, remembered the events of his former life in which he had been a house-holder named Hemala. Desiring now, though an animal, to do honour to the Lord, he went into the lake and plucked lotuses which he placed at his feet. The gods arrived, worshipped the Lord with fragrant substances. The hermits of that region spoke of this occurance to king Karakandu in Campa, who whereupon came to greet the Lord. The gods set up an image of the Lord which the king adored; he built for it an extensive caitya. The lake Kunda became a purifying tirtha, assuming the name Kalikunda, because the mountain Kali was in its vicinity. Parsvanatha then went to Sivapuri and placed himself in kayotsarga posture in the forest of Kausamba. The serpent king Dharana, remembering his former kindness, arrived there in great state to do him honour. During three days he held an umbrella over the Lord's head to protect him from the sun. From that time on the city there was called Ahicchatra (lit., serpent's umbrella). He then went to Rajapura, where king Isvara came to do him honour. Isvara had a caitya built on the spot where the saint had been in kayotsarga posture. In it he placed an image of the saint. The caitya then obtained the name Kukkutesvara, the city there being called Kukkutesvara. The Lord then wandered again. The Asura Meghamalin, prompted by his prenatal hostility, attacked Parsva with tigers, elephants and scorpions, but when the Lord showed no fright, they slunk off, as though ashamed. Then the Asura tried to submerge him in the waters produced by a fearful thunderstorm, but the Lord did not budge from his place and from his meditations. The serpent king Dharana found out, by avadhi insight, that Katha was attacking the Lord, went there with his divine wives, and placed lotuses at the feet of the Lord. By means of his seven hoods he fashioned an umbrella over his head; the Lord stood there like a royal hansa bird, submerged in a deep trance. The wives of Dharana honoured him with songs and the music of instruments. But the Lord retained his equanimity in the face of both Dharana's devotion and Kamatha's attacks. Dharana then excoriated Meghamalin's hatred of the Lord, pointing out that he had done him no injury, but on the contrary, had saved him from the sin of burning him (Dharana) on the occasion of his unholy practice. Meghamalin then repented, resorted to the law and went home, determined to devote himself to piety.
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Thereupon Parsva went to his native city of Kasi where he reached the state of kevalin. The thrones of the gods shook, they acclaimed him. Asvasena, his wife Vama and Parsva's wife, Prabhavati, went out to do him honour. Parsva then preached on the banks of the Ganga