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Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054
SADHVI PADMAVATI (Chitrasen)
In their previous lives, the male swan had flown away to bring water for his wife. Thinking that he had abandoned her, the female swan threw herself in burning jungle and burnt herself to death and was reborn as the male-hating Princess Padmavati. Upon returning with water, the male swan saw her burnt body and also threw himself in burning jungle and was reborn as the Prince Chitrasen. Strong emotional bonds can not be broken by death and so upon seeing a painting of Chitrasen, Padmavati acquired memory of her previous life and chose Chitrasen to be her husband. Chitrasen was returning to his kingdom with Padmavati when Chitrasen's best friend Ratnasarne overheard a conversation between Yaksh and Yakshini about four difficulties that were in store for Chitrasen. On the insistence of Chitrasen, he however revealed what he knew but became a statue because of a curse. Chitrasen was upset after seeing what happened to his friend and prayed to Yaksh and Yakshini and thereby learnt how to save Ratnasarne. Ratnasarne came back to life after a touch from Sati Padmavati. With the blessing of Yaksh and Yakshini all the three went to Ashtapad and found the way to moksha.
Stories Of The Sadhviji
121
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