Jain Journal 1967 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 12

APRIL, 1967
Saints and Blessed Ones, the Masters, the Path-makers (Arhats, Bhagavats, Adikaras, and Tirthankaras), the Perfectly Enlightened Ones; to the highest of men, the lions among men, the lotus-flowers of humanity; to the highest in the world, the guides of the world, the lights of the world; the givers of safety, of life, and of knowledge; the givers and preachers of law; the possessors of boundless wisdom and intuition; the conquerors and saviours; those who have reached a stainless and undying bliss whence there is no return, those who have conquered fear. Reverence to the venerable ascetic Mahavira, last of the Tirthankaras, whom the former Tirthankaras foretold. I here adore the revered one whom I see; may he from there see me.' So saying, Sakra bowed again and returned to his throne.
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It immediately occurred to him that it never had happened nor ever could happen that any Arhat, Cakravartin, or Vasudeva had taken birth in a low or degraded or in any Brahmana family, but only in noble families of pure descent. "This is the first time that an Arhat has taken conception in an unworthy family1; however, it has not yet happened that one has ever been born in such a family. I shall therefore cause the venerable ascetic Mahavira to be removed from the Brāhmaṇical quarter Kundagrama, and from the womb of the Brāhmaṇi Devananda, and to be placed as an embryo in the womb of the Ksatriyani Trisala, wife of the Ksatriya Siddhartha; and the embryo of the Kṣatriyāṇi Trisala to be placed in the womb of the Brahmani Devananda.' Thus reflecting, he called Harinegamesi2, the commander of his infantry; and instructed him as aforesaid, to exchange the embryos, and to return and report the execution of the command.
Harinegamesi bowed and departed, saying: "Just as Your Majesty orders." He descended from heaven toward the north-eastern quarter of the world, and assumed a material form; and so he passed with the high swift movement of a god, over continents and oceans, till he reached the town of Kundagrama and the house of the Brahmana Risabhadatta. There he bowed eight times to Mahavira, and cast the Brahmani Devananda into a deep sleep, and all her retinue; removing all that was unclean, he brought forth what was clean, and placed the embryo of the venerable ascetic Mahariva in the womb of the Ksatriyānī Trisala, and
1 That is to say, so regarded by the Jainas, whose philosophy and membership, like that of the Buddhists, was primarily of Ksatriya origin.
3 For the relation of this peculiar deity with the Brahmanical Nejamesa and Naigamesa see Winternitz, M., in J.R.A.S., 1895, pp. 149ff.