Jain Journal 1975 10

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

Page 57

OCTOBER, 1975
start playing from the other side of the screen. Three beautiful damsels enter on the stage, one after the other, dancing. They are the embodiments of the three qualities of piety, indulgence and perversity; and have come down on earth to distract Mahavir Vardhaman from his meditation. The first lady is Supriya and represents piety. She is putting on a white sari ; the ornament on her forehead, her necklace, girdle, bracelets and anklets are all set in pearls and diamonds. There is sandal-paste on her forehead and her hair are dressed in nyctanthes flower. The second lady is Rambha and represents indulgence. Her sari is red and all the accompanying garments are red. The jewellery which she is putting on is all set in ruby. There is saffron paste on her forehead, with a red vermilion dot in the centre. Her hair are dressed in trumpet flowers. The third lady is Tilottama and represents perversity. She is wearing a blue sari and blouse to match. Her ornaments are all made of sapphire. She has blacking in her eyes, moles on her cheeks and musk-paste on her forehead, with a big black dot in the centre. There is blue lotus in her hair.
The three ladies make amorous blandishments at Mahavir Vardhaman, but he is sitting with his eyes shut, in deep meditation. The ladies dance before Vardhaman and laugh and jeer at him. They even mimic the pose of meditation in which Vardhaman is sitting. Tired and disgusted they sit in front and on the sides of Mahavir] Rambha, we have got tired of dancing before this saint, but he still continues to be in meditation. We could impress even Indra with our dance, but here is this gentleman who did not even care to look at us.
Supriya :
Rambha :
I entirely agree with you Supriya--I have seen great Munis and saints whose eyes dance to the rhythm of our feet, but this gentleman is an exception. His eyes are lightly closed like the two lids of an oyster. He appears to be a great saint. Tilottama, you had pretensions to being a great danseuse. But today your dance has utterly failed.
Tilottama :
There is celestial music in my anklets. But a man who is deaf cannot appreciate the music of the feet.