Book Title: Holy Abu
Author(s): Jayantvijay
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

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Page 139
________________ 56 .... (Holy ABW figures of other unidentified gods and goddesses 1, (6) An open big porch in front of the Rangamaņdapa and attached to it, shows in the ceiling, an elaborate representation in relief of the fight between Bharata and Bāhubalī, the two sons of Rșhabhanātha, the first Tīrtharkara. The first Jina Rşhabhadeva had two daughters, Brāhmi and Sundarī, and one hundred sons, including Bharata and Bāhubali. Before renunciation, Rşhabha divided his kingdom amongst his sons-Bharata was crowned king of Ayodhyā, Bāhubali of Takşhashilā, and so on. Bharata started on a world conquest, his ninety eight brothers accepted his suzereignty and along with the two sisters they were initiated as monks and nuns of the order of Rşhabhanātha. Bharata desired that Bāhubali should also accept his sovereignty by coming to pay his homage. This being unacceptable to Bahubali, Bharata marched against the former with a big army. To avoid large-scale man-slaughter, it was decided that both the princes should enter into duels and the results be regarded as decisive of the fate of the war. The duels included competitions in continued unwinking gaze (drști-yuddha), boxing (musti-yuddha ), debates or uttering louder war-cries (vāk-yuddha) etc., in all of which Bāhubali became the champion. Enraged at this and forgetting all the acknowledged principles of duelfighting, Bharata tried his disc-weapon (cakra-ratna ) but as it was ordained that the divine weapon would be ineffective on one's relatives, the disc did no injury to Bāhubali. But this breach of accepted principles on the part of an eminent personality like Bharata-rājā, immediately 1 One of them, with a long beard, must be identified as the Brahmashānti-yaksha, comparable with the Hindu Brabmā. Another, also standing, and carrying a trident in one hand, is the yaksha Kaparddi or Ishānendra, probably the formerTranslator,

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