________________
56
The Dreadful Deterrents
vance of th> vows are described in the succeeding chapters i.e. two to five.
In the second chapter a certain god appeared before Kāmadeva at midnight. God assumed the form of a goblin,2 and threatened Kāmadeva who showed no fear, dread, alarm, agitation, emotion or perturbation, but remained silent and kept himself engaged in the meditation. The god often tried to frighten by assuming the form of a huge celestial elephant. a deadly venomous cobra and a huge celestial god. But all the efforts of a celestial god were in vain.3
In the third chapter, Culanipiyā was exposed to the temptation of giving up the observance of the vows to save the relatives. Culaņīpiyā, through lofty ascetic exercises, was reborn as a god,
In the fourth chapt:r Suradeva was victimized through similar temptations to preserve his health and wealth by breaking up the vows by a certain god. But he engaged himself in the meditation on religion.
In the fifth chapter a certain god who brandishing a large sword threatens Cullasayaga to slay his eldest son as a god does in the previous stories. His entire property was put in danger of being lost.6 Lastly like Surādeva and Culaņipiyā, Cullasayaga succeeded in duly observing the vows they had undertaken to perform. After death he reached the different heavens and he was destined to be liberated in due course.
All these stories of Kāmadeva, Culaņipiya, Surādeva and Cullasayaga closely resemble. The role of the god is narrated in the same manner.
In the sixth chapter Kundakoliya accepts the vows of a householder. A certain god appears, snatches away from the masonry platform the seal inscribed with his name and his upper garment and mounts up with them into mid-air under the sound of little bells. The god appreciates the doctrine of Gosāla Mankhaliputta and condemns the doctrine of Mahāvira, After exchange of some arguments the god being defeated places the seal inscribed with
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
