Jain Journal 1980 07

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

Page 19

RATHANEMI
GANESH LALWANI
The day when the clouds were hanging on the cliffs of Mount Ujjayanta, the day when there was every possibility of rain coming down in torrents, Rajimati, daughter of Ugrasena of the Bhoga clan was traversing the holy path of the valley. She had given up all the pleasures and wealth of this mundane world because Aristanemi of wide fame was coming to court her as his wife but feeling unbearable in the mid-way about the agony of animals brought for royal banquet he renounced the world and ascended the Mount Ujjayanta. That was why she was moving on his track by ignoring all the entreaties and requests of dear and near ones. Whom she could not meet in this life she wanted to meet at Isat Pragbhara on the crest of this universe.
But before she could move very far a tremendous gale obstructed her path. In a few seconds it began to rain heavily. Thunders began to rumble and their echo could be heard from all directions. In that gale and rain Rajimati moved upwards as there was no shelter nearby. At last finding a cave she entered into it.
Being narrow the interior of the cave was dark. Besides, the darkness of the clouds had made it still darker. As far she could see she saw no one and there was no chance that anybody would come all on a sudden in that gale. So she removed the wet clothes from her body and spread them on the ground after rinsing them.
But in the interior of that cave was staying Rathanemi the younger brother of Aristanemi after taking initiation in Sramanahood. When Rajimati entered that cave he was in meditation. But after a little while when he opened his eyes he saw Rajimati at the entrance completely divested of her garments. Her beautiful body was still wet and was as smooth as a petal of a lily. Suddenly he felt an irresistible passion to have her close in his arms.
Rathanemi left his seat and rose. He felt as if the creator had created that form by concocting the dust of moon-beams. Ravished by the sight of the flowering beauty of her youth he could not restrain the temptation of looking at it from near. So he moved towards her slowly enchanted as it were by the graceful curves and the glowing complexion of her heavenly form.