Jain Journal 2005 07

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

Page 18

S.P. PADMAPRASAD: JAIN FOLK SONGSANDLEGENDSOFKARNATAKA
It is said that after carving the Bahubali statue, Camuṇḍarāya arranged for its first head bath or Mahamastakābhiṣeka. When it was going on in a grand manner, he felt very proud of himself and thought 'what a great work is done by me! Suddenly the flow of the liquid (milk) etc.) stopped at the knee of the statue. Everybody was stunned. Camuṇḍarāya fell into worries. Then Padmavati Yakşi appeared in the disguise of an old woman. She had a hallow brinjal in her hand. It was filled with some milk and curds. She said she would like to pour it on the head of the Lord. Everybody laughed at her and ignored. She was presented before the minister Camuṇḍarāya and he in a negligent mood, permitted. The old woman was taken atop the gallery and she poured the liquid contents in the brinjal cup on the head of the statue.
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And behold, then occured the magic. All the milk, ghee, curds etc. poured earlier, which had accumulated at the knee of the statue, suddenly flowed down the feet of the statue, flowed down the slope of the hill and collected as a beautiful pond in between the two hills. Camuṇḍaraya's ego vanished. He erected the image of the goddess in that form infront of Lord Gomateśvara.
This legend has a beautiful message. Our work, how much great it may be, should not develop ego in us. If it develops, all further developments will stop. One tree is taller than the other and even the tallest tree cannot reach the heaven.
2) Legend on saint Maghanandī
Acārya Maghanandi was a Digambar saint who lived many centuries ago. Though he was young, he was a great scholar. There is a legend about him. It states that one potter, on seeing devotees presenting their beloved things to saints, innocently left his grown up daughter with this saint. She, being equally innocent, thought that she would serve the saint and when he was sleeping, started pressing his legs to relieve him from the strain. The saint woke up, knew the reason for her presence there and her action (both are forbidden) and fell in temptation with her. He becomes a householder by marrying