Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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else, they would not have written their scriptures in a simple language like Pr k ta. Besides, even their Mah mantra is also chanted in Pr k ta, the language of the common folk. By virtue of his noble birth and having studied in Sanskrita all his childhood, Siddhasen felt hurt when he heard such comments. “Namo arhat siddh c ryop dhy ya sarvas dhubhyah” - thus he recited the N mask ra mantra in Sanskrita. Then he came back to the lodgings, to his Guru and recited the same before him, and expressed his desire to compile the scriptures of Jainism in Sanskrita.
The congregation reprimanded him saying, “Siddhasena, you acquired sin by uttering such words. Lord T rthamkara and Ga adharas were not unaware of Sanskrita. If we translate the scriptures into Sanskrita, it is equal to humiliating those great souls. You did a grave mistake by translating the primordial immortal N maskar mantra into Sanskrita. In order to purify yourself of that sin, you have to undergo 'da ave pr mcika' -Punishment of contrition.
In front of the congregation and his Guru, Sidhasen accepted the vow of contrition of concealing his appearance of a monk by forgoing his mouthcover cloth and whiskbroom for twelve years and serve the Jain order. He immediately commenced his services to the congregation, secretly. Giving discourses about the Jain doctrines to many kings, in the eighth year of his vow of contrition, he reached Ujjaini. It is said that he, when in the guise of a monk (avadhuta), went into the temple of Mah k le wara, slept stretching his feet towards the iva Limga. In the morning when the priests of the temple noticed his legs towards the iva Limga, they asked him to move from there and even admonished him, but to no avail. Finally they complained the matter to the king who became furious and sent his soldiers to flog the monk and make sure he leaves the temple. The soldiers at first tried to convince him to leave the place; then they coerced him and finally they were forced to flog him. But to everyone's surprise, not even a single scourge fell on him. Seeing this, everyone was dumb-founded. They passed on the message to the king. The astounded king Vikram ditya at once went to the temple and said to the yogi, “O Great Soul! It is not befitting you to lie down stretching your feet towards the iva Limga. You should in fact bow to Lord iva, revered by one and all”.
The yogi replied, “O King! This divine iva Limga of yours cannot endure the intense power of my salutations”. After repeated entreaties by
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