Jain Journal 1990 04

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

Page 68

APRIL, 1990
Formerly there were two cities, one Southern Mathura and the other Northern Mathura. One Devadatta a trader of Northern Mathura went to Southern Mathura and became a friend of one Jayasimha of that city. Once Devadatta was dining with his friend where he saw Annika, a sister of Jayasimha and fell in love with her. Ultimately he married her, promising her brother that he would not leave the city until he had a son by Annika. Years passed by but no child was born to her; meanwhile, Devadatta received a letter from his parents requesting him to return to Northern Mathura to see them. The conflict between his promise to stay and his desire to see his parents brought tears to his eyes; however his wife Annika got him relieved of his promise and they both started for the place. In course of their journey Annika gave birth to a son named Sandhirana but better known as Annikaputra. Some years after Annikaputra renounced the world and became a Jain Sadhu (monk). Later this Annikaputra Muni came to a city, on the banks of the Ganges, called Puspabhadra. Puspaketu was the king and the beautiful Puspavati was the queen there. She gave birth simultaneously to one son and one daughter called Puspacula and Puspacula. When they grew up, they were married to each other by the king entirely against the will of her queen Puspavati, who was a Jain. Later Puspavati, by her austere penance and meritorious actions was reborn as a Deva and decided to save her daughter from future hell-life. She showed her in dreams the misery and pain of hell and the blessings of heaven. None could read her dreams aright but Annikaputra Muni wonderfully depicted her dreams and explained them satisfactorily. Consequent upon this explanation, she renounced the world and became a Sadhvi (Nun), after promising her husband that she would accept food only from his house.
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Years after Annikaputra Muni foresaw a long and disastrous famine and sent away his disciples but himself stayed there with Puspacula Sadhvi. Shortly after by her austere penance, she obtained kevalajñāna (absolute knowledge). Annikaputra Muni inquired of her when he would have his final emancipation. She informed him that he would attain it immediately in course of his crossing the Ganges. Being eager for the purpose, the Muni started at once to cross the river. While he was thus crossing it by a ferry boat, it began to sink; therefore, his co-passengers pushed him off the boat. While thus being drowned, he only thought of the apkāya-(water)-lives he was harming and thus obtained his final emancipation. Later the skull of the material body of that Muni drifted ashore to a certain place and there a Patala tree grew from his skull.
King Udayi thereupon founded a city on the spot and called it Pataliputra.