Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 1
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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Page 124
________________ Lord r Dharman tha The 15thT rthamkara of Jain religion was Lord r Dharman tha. In his past life he was Simharatha, the king of Bhaddilapura, located in east Videha in Dh tak kha da. He was valorous and ruled over a vast empire. He was very interested in religion, considering insipid all worldly pleasures and renouncing them, became a Jain mendicant taking initiation from the monk Vimalav hana and observing all austerities obtained the T rthamkara n makarma. After spending a contemplative existence with equanimity and endurance for a long time he became a powerful god in the Vaijayanta vim na (celestial transport vehicle). Completing his term there Simharatha's soul entered the womb of Suvrat , the queen of the valiant king Bh nu of Ratnapura on the 7th day of the bright half of the Vai kha month under constellation Pu ya. Queen Suvrat was delighted to see the 14 great dreams. Upon completion of her pregnancy she gave birth to a son on the third day of the bright fortnight of M gha under constellation Pu ya. The birth was celebrated with gaiety. When the child was in her womb the mother used to get a pregnancy whim of religious merit, thinking thus the son was named Dharman tha. When he became a young man, to fulfill his father's desires, Dharman tha married and then for 2 lakh 50 thousand years ruled the kingdom. After managing the affairs of the kingdom for 5 lakh years he became inclined towards initiation. On request by the lok ntikagods Dharman tha gave charities for a year and observing fast with 1000 kings, on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of M gha under Pu ya constellation, renouncing all bad karmas, he became an initiate/monk. The next day he broke his fast at the home of the king of Somanasa city, Dharmasimha, by taking rice pudding. After becoming a monk, bearing with many difficulties and trials Lord Dharman tha roamed about as mendicant for 2 years. Thereafter, reaching the place of initiation, moving from deep meditation to k apaka re under the Dadhipar a tree, destroying obscuring karmas, he attained pure intuition and knowledge on the full moon of Pau a month under Pu ya constellation. After becoming omniscient, in a grand assembly of gods and men he said in his sermon – "you fight with your own internal flaws /impurities, understand your own self and its nature, and by giving up worldly pleasures, enjoy a state of bliss.” Hearing his 124

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