________________
The Descent of Ganga and the Destruction of the Sixty Thousand Sons of Sagara
Ajitanātha Caritra, Trişaştiśalākāpuruşa Caritra
[Trişastiśalākāpuruşa Caritra is a great work in 10 parvas. Written by Hemacandracarya it contains the biographies of sixtythree salākāpuruşas or great personages who, according to the belief of the Jainas have risen in the present Avasarpini. They comprise the twentyfour Tirthankaras, the twelve Cakravartins, the nine Vasudevas, nine Baladevas and nine Prativasudevas. Written in an easy style of anuştubha metre it contains fine descriptions. Here we present the Jinistic form of the legend of the descent of Ganga and the destruction of the sixty thousand sons of Sagara and the burning of Dvaraka and the death of Krsna. The whole work has been translated into English by Helen M. Johnson and published in Gaekwad's Oriental Series. 1
Now, the Cakrabhrt (Sagara), attended by sixtyfour thousand women, amused himself like a god, plunged in an ocean of pleasure ... (and sixty thousand sons, Janhu, etc., were born to him. Reared by nurses ... the sons gradually grew up. Gradually they acquired the arts and attained youth. ...
One day the princes, powerful, said to their father) Cakrin Sagara who was at home : "Lord of Magadha, the ornament of the eastern, ... the southern and the western quarters, (Lord) of Himacala, the pillar
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
