Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 3
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana
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Influenced by this popularity, King of Prati h napura appointed Var ha as his royal astrologer / adviser.
During this period of popularity of Var ha Mihira, scholar of occult science, crya Bhadra B hu also came to Prati h napura. On hearing this auspicious news, King of Prati h napura alongwith his family, friends and advisers including Var ha Mihira came to pay obeisance to
c rya Bhadra B hu in the garden where he was staying. After completion of the religious discourse byc rya Bhadra B hu, the king became busy in discussions with his royal adviser Var ha Mihira. At this point, a royal messenger came and gave the news of the birth of a son to Var ha Mihira. After paying reward to the messenger, the King asked Var ha, 'Purohitj ! In how many types of knowledge and skills your son will be a distinguished scholar and how long will he live and how many citations will be bestowed on him?' Fortunately scholar of all types of knowledge, c rya Bhadra B hu is also here and so we will establish the validity of astrological knowledge by him.
Var ha Mihira said'O King! After thorough review of various constellations and their formations and their influences at the time of my son's birth, I am in a position to say that this child will live for 100 years, will acquire deep knowledge and become expert scholar of all types of knowledge and earn several citations. Your sons and grandsons will venerate this child as well’.
The King then humbly prayed to c rya Bhadra B hu, 'Please advice if everything my royal adviser tells about his son is true?' crya Bhadra B hu remained equanimous and observed undisturbed silence. However on persistent requests from the king, he thought ‘according to Jain scriptures it is clearly forbidden for a monk to announce the effects of a constellation and other such causes. However to cure diseases sometimes it becomes essential for a monk has to swallow a bitter pill.' Thinking so,
c rya Bhadra B hu said, 'O King! The reality is in fact something else which I should not express as doing so will not yield benefit to anyone. Still I can only say due to your persistent requests that the effects of karmas will be known to all on the seventh day from today'.
The envy and jealousy which was growing against Bhadra B hu for several years now became uncontrollable for Var ha Mihira. He angrily
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