Jain Journal 1981 04

SR No.: 520062
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 79
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 6 MB

Page 18

132
According to the Digambara traditions, however, he ruled from Podanasa or Podanapura.3
JAIN JOURNAL
Having defeated many kings, Bharata demanded homage from his ninty-nine brothers. Ninty-eight renounced the world to become Jaina monks, but Bahubali refused to acknowledge his brother's sovereignity. Bharata marched on his brother with a large army, but in order to avoid. bloodshed they resolved that the fate of war would be decided by a duel between the two brothers. They first engaged in drşti-yuddha, gazing at each other with steadfast eyes, whoever winked first being the loser. Then came boxing (muşți-yuddha), but Bahubali being victorious in such duels, Bharata, against the recognised laws of duelling, sought the aid of his discus-the cakra-ratna. The cakra had no effect on Bahubali, he being a relation, for the cakra would not kill relations of its weilder.
Just when victory seemed certain, Bahubali was seized with the thought of the evanescence of the world and the utter futility of sovereignty and kingdom. Instead of crushing the opponment, he plucked off his own hair on the field of battle and became a Jaina monk. Bharata, his head bent with shame and remorse, returned to his capital while Bahubali remained steadfast in meditation. Standing motionless in the käyotsarga posture he endured cold, heat, wind, rain and thunderstorms. Wild buffaloes rubbed themselves against his body, elephants pulled his hands and feet and herds of yaks licked his body without fear. According to Hemacandra," he was surrounded completely by creepers; around his feet, buried in the mud of the rainy season, grew abundant darbha-grass infested with moving centepedes, while hawks, sparrows
3 Adipurana of Jinasena, 35.27, calls it Podanasa; it is called Pautanapura in the Padmacarita of Ravisena, 4,67, p. 61, and Podana in the Harivamsa of Jinasena, 11.78, p. 212. Kannada writers follow this tradition. Also see, K. P. Jain, "Podanapura and Taksasila", Jaina Antiquary, vol. III (Dec. 1937), pp. 57 ff. His arguments, however, are not convincing. It may be noted that the Paumacariyam, 4.38, p. 33, says that Bahubali ruled at Taksasila, which tradition is followed by all Svetambara writers.
4 Most of the texts do not specify the place where Bahubali stood in meditation, cf. Paumacariyam, 4.54-55; Avasyaka Niryukti, gatha 349 and Bhasya gathas, 32-34 on it in Haribhadra's Avasyaka Vrtti, p. 152; also, Avasyaka Curni, pp. 180 ff; Adipurana, 36.106-110. The Avasyaka Vrtti of Haribhadra, p. 152, and also Paumacariyam, however, seem to suggest that he continued meditation on or near the battlefield. Hemacandracarya says the same thing. Adipurana, op. cit., refers to Bahubali's travels without a companion monk, Jinasena, however, in his Harivamsa, 11.98-102, pp. 214, says that he meditated for one year on Mt. Kailasa.
⚫ Trisastisalakapurusacaritra, vol. I (Transl., G. O. Series), pp. 322-326.