Jain Journal 1970 04

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

Page 35

APRIL, 1970
229
died and was reborn as Dharana, king of the Nāgas in the subterranean home of the serpents. Katha, as the result of his false practice, was reborn as an Asura by name of Meghamali.
Parsva, happening to see on the wall of his palace a picture of the Arhat, Nemi, who had taken the vow early in life, decided to do the same. At the foot of an Asoka tree he renounced power and wealth, plucked out his hair, and at the age of thirty, obtained kevala knowledge. He wandered from place to place, instructing, and acclaimed as a Tirthankara. In course of his wanderings, Lord Parsva was attacked by the Asura Meghamali (the soul of Kamatha) with tigers, elephants, and scorpions, but, when he showed no fear, they slank off, as though ashamed. Meghamali then tried to submerge him in the waters produced by a fearful thunderstorm ; even then the Lord did not budge from his place and his pious meditations. Dharana finding out by superior insight that
na was attacking the Lord, fashioned by means of his serpent hoods an umbrella over his head : the Lord stood there submerged in a deep trance, retaining his equanimity in the face of both Kamatha's attacks and Dharana's devotion. Dharana then excoriated Meghamali's hatred of the Lord, pointing out that he had done him no injury, but on the contrary, had saved him from the sin of burning up Dharana on the occasion of his uncanny practice. Meghamali then repented, took resort to the Lord, and went home, determined to devote himself to piety. Thus ended the drama of the persecution of the soul of Marubhuti by the soul of Kamatha, carried on through ten existences.
Aristanemi
At Sauripura, Siva, the wife of Samudravijaya, dreamt at dawn the fourteen great dreams. Then at midnight of the 5th of Sravana śuklā she gave birth to a child of dark colour with the mark of a conch. The child was given the name of Aristanemi. He grew up at Dvaraka into a young man.
Indra once described the peculiar virtues of Nemi to the gods. The latter unbelieving assumed human forms and waged war upon Dvaraka; Balarama and Krisna were defeated and made prisoners. Then Krisna's wives went to their brother in-law Nemi and said humbly that he, being a Jina, a Tirthankara, was of unlimited power, and that though his brothers had been carried off he was unmoved and his valour would be of no account unless it was shown now. Nemi considered for a while, then proceeded against the enemy. He completely defeated the gods and brought back Andhakavrisni, Balarama and Krisna.