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Correspondence
Sir, Reference to the sculpture of 'Double-headed Eagle'in ‘Rishabha's visit to Taksasila' by P. C. Dasgupta (Jain Journal, Vol. VI No. 1) reminds me of Bharunda birds. Like this eagle, they too are stated to have one belly and two necks.
There are innumerable references to this bird in the Jaina literature like Vasudeva Hindi, Kalpasūtra Kiraņāvali, Trişaşțišalākā puruşacaritra, etc. It was big in size and mighty in strength and could carry a man in its claws. For this its services were often utilised by the then traders for going to Ratna-dvipa (Valley of Diamonds) and coming back. We have a comparable story in the Voyages of Sindbad, the Sailor. But while Sindbad tied himself to the leg of the giant bird, the Indian traders used to lie down on the ground with a lump of meat tied to their back. Then they were carried to and from the Valley of Diamonds.
This giant bird was noted for its restraint as well as foolishness. As to the former, we have it in the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra : “Be thou awake, though others sleep, and like the wise trust none. Remain alert for moments are treacherous and this body is weak. Like Bharunda be watchful all the while.” This, because the Bharunda bird was always careful to take food by one mouth only. If it took from the two at a time it might have choked itself to death. The foolishness of the bird is depicted in the following lines of the Pañcatantra :
“Bharunda birds will teach you why
The disunited surely die ; For single-bellied, double-necked
They took a wrong food."
The story is like this. While searching for food, its first neck found some nectar and began to drink it. The second neck demanded its share. Being refused, the second neck took poison to teach the first neck a lesson. Belly being the same, it died.
References to its presentation in art are also found. Samayasundara, the poet, refers to some such presentations on the wall-paintings of a king's palace. I have in my own collection some old paintings containing it. Yours, etc.
-B. L. Nahata, Calcutta
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