Jain Journal 1982 04

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

Page 46

APRIL, 1982
of lament of the poor creatures moved Nemi while he was progressing to the bride's palace with colours and pageantry befitting his time as he felt that such a slaughter and cruelty were so needless and unjust for celebration of a marriage union, an occasion of love and joy. Seeing the nature of the world around him the prince stepped down from his chariot, a fit mount of splendour that could equally serve in combat as one may imagine, abandoned his jewellery and immediately renounced everything to meditate alone on mount Raivataka near Dvaraka. Seeing the proceedings from her palace or perhaps from the high ramparts of such a royal edifice built like a castle Rajimati also made up her mind and renounced the world. None could substitute her darling youth, the prince of all princes who left her before the portals of her abode to become a recluse on a lonely mountain. When Rathanemi, the brother of Aristanemi proposed to marry her in the situation she refused him outright lest the words though spoken from an admiring heart would mar the very dignity of her cherished love. No wonder Nemi longed to be a Kevalt by merging in the truth of eternity when Krsna, his cousin-brother, is regarded as a manifestation of Visnu in the epics and the Purāṇas.
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It is very probable that Nemi (a shorter form of Aristanemi and Neminatha) like Parsva, the 23rd Tirthankara was also a real personality in the way of history since there are reasons to believe the historicity of Vasudeva-Krsna and the great battle of Kuruksetra. Had there been no renunciation the ancient ministrels might have added in the Kuru-Pandava story another glowing account of a mighty warrior, his glory and sacrifice in the field of arms. Perhaps, the strength and greatness of Nemi, the illustrious son of Samudravijaya, once king of Sauripur, but now ruling from Dvaraka, made him a hermit who sought the ultimate knowledge in meditation.
The tale of Nemi sung in old ballads has been presented in the form of an opera by the famed playwright Sri Ganesh Lalwani. This work will be remembered for its profundity and mystic import. With the melodious harmony of music, the lilts and cadence of words and lyrics sung and the symphony of ultimate realisation the opera carries a message as a beam of light from a distant horizon. The play was first staged in the Star Theatre in Calcutta in the morning of 11th January, 1981. Later it was again enacted in the Mahajati Sadan in Calcutta in the evening of 12th October, 1981. On both the occasions the opera was played by the students of the Jain Siksalaya of the city. Presented by girls, either very young or pretty children, it was guided and choreographed by veteran artists and musicians. The writer had the opportunity to witness the enactment of the musical play when it was staged in the Mahajati