Jain Journal 1985 04

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

Page 23

124
Turning to Vasantatilaka, he added,
"You were her sister at that time, and you had approved of her misdeed. Your karma has also come up, and so you too are sufferring with her. But the hardest part of your time is nearing its end, and it will gradually improve hereafter. Then the great lady's chastity and firmness will shine in full brilliance. The lady's maternal uncle will soon come here and will take you both to his palace where you will spend some time. Then you will meet Pavananjaya."
JAIN JOURNAL
Anjana and her friend continued to live in that forest waiting for the time when fortune might take a turn for the better. In the same cave, a son was born unto Anjana, and the lady had more sorrow than joy. No ceremony could be organised in that forest to receive the new child. It was about this time that her maternal uncle Vidyadhara Pratisurya saw the ladies from the air and thought that they might be in some difficulty. So he descended to help them out.
Vasantatilaka looked at him and made sure that this was no villain. As he heard the lady's account from her friend, he said,
"My daughter! I happen to be your maternal uncle. I cannot leave you here like this. The world has turned itself against you. This has been the greatest wrong. But I cannot leave you in this wilderness. You must come with me, I invite you and welcome you."
Anjana was overwhelmed at the warmth of his feeling and she accepted the invitation. This was also predicted by the monk. They were now on the chariot which moved through the air. As the chariot moved, its bells tinkled, and attracted by their sound, the boy gave a jump to get them. But he slipped from there and fell straight on a mountain. Anjana was alarmed that the child must have been smashed to death. But when Pratisurya came down, he found to his greatest surprise that there had been no fracture even and the child was heartily smiling taking credit for the high jump. A few slabs of stone were, however, crushed under the child's weight. The uncle predicted a great future for the boy, declaring him to be a prodigee.
Back to his own city, Hanupur, Pratisurya celebrated the child's birth with greatest pomp. As the mountain had been crushed under his weight, the boy was named Silacur. As per the name of the city, however, he was named Hanuman. Pratisurya held a very high opinion about Anjana, she was revered in the whole city. Anjana's hard days were at last over.