Jain Journal 1994 07

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

Page 39

KUMARI DANACHINTAMANI ATTIMOBBE -- AN APPRAISAL
(d) At the instance of the king, she walked forth into the waters of the river Godavari fearlessly with the image of the Jina upon her head, and the river stopped flowing.
(e) A rutting elephant which was once touched by Attimobbe, became calm saluted her.
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(f) She once announced an irrevocable fast, until she secured the image of Jina that had fallen to the river bottom. The image reached Attimobbe safely in a short while.
(g) When another wife of her husband plotted to kill Attimobbe by drowing her in the river, the boat started rotating and thus she was saved. 55
The above appear to be the sensational events that really took place; hence they need to be viewed from two aspects, abstract and concrete. The former reflect the high spiritual attainments, inherent super in qualities and beliefs in right faith, right conduct and right knowledge; whereas the latter on many sided abilities and application of utilitarianism in spirit and action. Observing fast even unto death to secure a Jina bimba that had fallen to the river and to secure the same from a distant place on the bank of the river Narmada, all these reflect her inherent moral and spiritual strength. Likewise, she seems to have proved successful once in stopping violence by applying the strength of Non-violence, to wipe out the wild fire that had spread in the city; on another occasion, she calmed down a rutting elephant which later even saluted her. The evils of polygamous family structure are well-reflected in the narration of an event when a jealous co-wife plotted to take away Attimobbe's life. The event of Attimobbe crossing the river Godavari appears to have influenced even Gangaraja during the later years - while crossing the river Kaveri. An inscription at Sravana Belgola contains the following passage: "Whereever he marched, whereever his mind was attached, there he had Jina basadis made, and thus the country was brought through Gangaraja to the condition in which it had been in the days of yore." The record proceeds further and attributes extraordinary powers to the great general: "The reason why the world extols the distinguished Jaina devotee Attimobbe is because, the Godavari stopped flowing. Now the river Kaveri, though it swelled, surrounded and pressed forward, its waters did not touch the General Gangaraja, when he crossed the flooded river, obviously during his attack on Talakad. Thus Attimobbe became an exem
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55. Ibid., Vol. XI, Sts: 18-26. 56. E. C., Vol. II.