Jain Journal 1970 07

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

Page 21

10
To Janaka of Mithila was born a son, Bhamandala, and a daughter Sita. The son was abducted by a revengeful god and abandoned. He was found by the Vidyadhara king Candragati who brought him up as his son.
JAIN JOURNAL
Now Mithila was in danger because of an attack by a barbarian people. Rama and Laksmana were invited to Mithila to fight against the invaders. Naturally Janaka was grateful for their services. He desired to offer Rama his daughter Sita in marriage.
But trouble was created by eternal trouble-monger Narada. One day he frightened Sita by his sudden appearance in her palace and so was thrown out by her attendants. Smarting under this insult, he showed Sita's portrait to Bhamandala who at once felt attracted to her. To save his life Candragati had to lay a trap for bringing Janaka to him. But Janaka would not agree, since Sita was already betrothed. Atlast a compromise was arrived at according to which Janaka would give Sita to one who would be able to string two divine bows Vajravarta and Samudravarta. Accordingly the bows were removed to Mithila and a svayamvara was held. As destiny would have it, Rama and Laksmana could only string the bows. Sita was therefore, married to Rama. The other three brothers were also married on the same occasion.
Frustrated Bhamandala decided to abduct Sita forcibly. He reached Vidagdhapura with his army and remembered his past birth as a rular of that place. He also got the vision of his real character as the kidnapped brother of Sita.
Remorseful he came to Ayodhya and was introduced to Rama and others by monk Satyabhuti.
Rama, Laksmana and Sita go into exile
Once Dasaratha took to task the old chamberlain in his harem for negligence. The latter put forth disability due to old age. This filled Dasaratha's mind with thoughts of ephemeral nature of worldly pleasures. So he decided to crown Rama in his place and renounce the world.
Now learning that Dasaratha was to crown Rama the next day, Kaikayi became jealous and asked the king to give the throne to her own son Bharata and thus to honour his promise to give her the boons. It was indeed very hard but there was no way out either. Kaikayi was