Jain Journal 1968 07

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

Page 29

10
The place of his birth is stated to be Soriapura (Sauripura). His father was Samudravijaya and mother Siva. His other three brothers were Rathanemi, Satyanemi and Drdhanemi. He was a Gautama by gotra. At one place he has been addressed as Vṛṣṇi-pungava or the best of the Vrsnis and elsewhere he has been called a progeny of Andhakavrsni. This establishes his line to be Vrsni, the same as that of Krsna.
JAIN JOURNAL
We have record of his physique. It bore 1008 holy marks. His voice was sweet. The joints of his body have been described as vajraṛṣabha-nārāca implying thereby that these were beyond fracture even though trampled by horses with chariot. His body formation was such that when he sat at ease, the distance between the two thighs, that between the left shoulder and the right thigh, between the right shoulder and the left thigh and between the forehead and the seat would be equal. (sama-caturasra) His belly was fish-shaped and complexion dark. He was ten bows' length in height.
It is not clear if Aristanemi had lost his parents by the time he came of a marriagable age but Krsna appears to have played as his guardian in seeking the hands of Rajimati, the beautiful and good-natured daughter of Ugrasena of the Bhoja clan for his cousin. The one condition laid by Ugrasena 'that the prince need come' was acceptable to Krsna.
Then were performed all the ceremonial rites and the procession started amidst pomp and grandeur followed by music and four-fold army. When the procession had reached near the palace of Ugrasena, the animals put in the enclosure gave a pitious yell. The prince looked at them but did not know what they were for. He asked his charioteer :
"What for are these free animals put in the enclosures and cages ?" The charioteer replied,
"These are here to feed the assemblage on the occasion of your wedding."
"Then", thought he, "this will do me no good in the next world."
Contemplating thus he removed all the ornaments from his body and gave them to the charioteer. Then he ascended the palanquin Uttarakura and surrounded by gods and men reached Mount Raivataka. There in the park he descended from the palanquin beneath an Asoka tree and five-times he uprooted his soft, curled and scented hairs with his own hand to court the life of a recluse.