Jain Journal 1968 10

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

Page 27

72
VIDYADHARA KANDA
The place is Rajagrha, the capital of Magadha. Srenika (Bimbisara) is the ruling monarch. Mahavira has arrived in the city and is holding a congregation on Mount Vipula. A messenger informs the king of the arrival of Mahavira. On hearing this, the king goes through the prescribed ceremony of homage and proceeds to meet the spiritual overlord in the audience-hall. The twelve compartments of the hall are already full when Srenika arrives. He pays his respect to Mahavira and expresses the desire to be given the correct version of the Rama story.
paramesara parasāsaņehi suvvai vivareri kahe jiņasāsane kema thiya kaha rāhavakeri
JAIN JOURNAL
jage loehi dhakkarivantaehi uppäiu bhantiu bhantaehi
Oh Lord, the Raghava episode is heard in other faiths in a distorted form. So be good to give the Jaina version. Motivated people in the world produce narrow versions of this narrative.
Then deputed by the Master, Gautama thus begins the story :
On Rsabha, the Jina
Of the fourteen kulakaras, the last one was named Nabhi. His consort Marudevi was to be the mother of the first Tirthankara Rsabha. Anticipating this, the six goddesses, Kirti, Buddhi, Sri, Hri, Dhrti and Laksmi approached Marudevi in human form to serve her. In due course Marudevi saw the fourteen auspicious dreams that the mothers of all the Tirthankaras are wont to see. Then Rsabha was born.
On his birth, Rsabha was duly adored by Indra who took him to Mount Mandara and placed him on the throne. Then followed the usual heavenly festivity of ablution ceremony and water-jars of seven seas were emptied over Rsabha's head. Indra then adorned him with various ornaments and gods danced and sang.
jaya tihuyana guru ṇayaṇaṇaḥdana jaya devahideva paramappaya jaya tiyasindavindavandiyapaya