________________
Lord's sermon, became disenchanted with the world and became a mendicant. Amgati observed severe penance. He completely followed the basic tenets of restraint but accepted impure food and water and did not repent doing so. Thus in the end, completing his life with a fast of 15 days, he became the Indra of Jyotirmaņdala. He has got these attributes on account of his penance and restraint.” On being asked by Gautama Ga adhara the Lord further said – “When he completes his time, Candra will be born in Mah Videha and shall become emancipated, enlightened and liberated."
Similarly, once when Lord Mah v ra arrived at the Gu a laka caitya (hall with auspicious emblems) in R jag ha, S rya too came to the Lord's samava ara a. S rya too showed extraordinary spectacles and returned to his abode. When Ga adhara Gautama questioned about Surya's past life, the Lord said – “The g th patiof r vast , Suprati ha, was a wealthy, magnanimous and respected and famous person. He went to the sermon of Lord P r van tha and took initiation. He too did severe penance, followed the basic virtues fully, but neglected the secondary virtues and did not repent and completing his life observing pious death code (samlekhan ), became the god S rya. After completing his life in the realm of gods he will be born in Mah Videha and shall become enlightened observing austerities.
In the same way, god ukra too came for the Lord's samava ara a and showing awesome spectacles through his vaikriyalabdhi, saluting the Lord, returned to his abode. Sensing Ga adhara Gautama's curiosity, Mah v ra said – “In his past life he was a learned Vaidika scholar, Brahmin Somila who used to live in Varanasi. When Lord P r van tha came to Varanasi's mra la forest, Somil too went there. He asked the Lord many questions and happy with their answers, became a votary (r vaka) of the Lord. In time, on account of seeing a false monk and emergence of falsehood (mithy ) the thought occurred to him that if numerous gardens were made it would be good and he made many gardens. Then philosophical thinking led him to a strong feeling of becoming an ascetic. Handing over the family's responsibilities to his eldest son, he renounced. As an ascetic Somila started observing many fasts and started wandering, regularly facing the sun in penance. While
up one night a thought occurred to him to move towards the
250
