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Appendix- 1 The foundation of Rākşasa Vaṁsa
Innumerable years ago, the first Tirthankara Sri Rsabhadeva ruled the earth. He created harmony in discord. People during this age were selfless and innocent. He was the pioneer of the Ikşvāku dynasty, Bharata cakravarti was the progeny of Lord Sri Rşabhadeva. Adityayasa, the son of Bharata cakravarti is the founder of Surya dynasty. King Anaranya, Dasaratha, Rama and Laksmana were born in this dynasty.
When Lord Rşabhadeva renounced the world and became an ascetic, two of his grandsons Nami and Vinami were absent. They frequently visited their grandfather, who now was an ascetic, and demanded land for themselves. Finally, diety Dharanendra summoned them both and handed them two ranges of the mountain vaitādhya. He also taught them many vidyas. Mount Vaitādhya divides the Bharata kşetra into two parts. King Vinami ruled the northern ranges of Vaitādhya and King Nami ruled its southern ranges. They were the founders of the Vidyadhara race. Innumerable rulers were born in these two dynasties. Some achieved salvation and some achieved goodhood.
During the regime of Lord Sri Ajitanatha Svāmi, the second Tirthankara, King Purnaghana ruled Rathanupūra, situated in the southern ranges of Vaitadhya, and King Sulocana ruled Gaganavallabha nagara in the northern ranges of Vaitādhya. King Purnaghana wanted his son prince Ghanavāhana to marry princess Rupavati, the daughter of King Sulocana. Purnaghana, therefore sent a formal proposal to Sulocana, but the seers in the royal court advised the king to marry his daughter to Sagara cakravarti, the cousin of Lord Ajitanatha. He decided to follow the advice of his seers.
This decision bruised the vanity of King Pūrnaghana. A fierce battle was fought between him and the King Sulocana. This was an aimless war. The wounded ego of King Purnaghana took away thousands of lives. Finally, King Sulocana was killed by his foe King Purnaghana. King Sulocana's progeny prince Sahasranayana and princess Rūpavati managed to elude the enemies and take a shelter in the forest. They once met Sagara cakravarti in the forest. The young prince Sahasranayana gave his sister Princess Rüpavati to Sagara cakravarti in marriage. Sagara cakravarti allotted him some land and coronated him as a king
As days passed, King Sahasranayana became a powerful ruler. He declared a war against King Purnaghana and Prince Ghanavāhana in order to avenge his father's death. In a fierce battle that ensued, King Purnaghana was killed. His son Ghanavāhana seeked a refuge at the lotus feet of Sri Ajitanātha, who made him fearless. King Sahasranayana too gave up his pride and reached the feet of Lord Ajitanatha. They both learned about their past lives in the sermon delivered by the Lord. Ghanavāhana praised the Lord. Raksasa, the emperor of a clan of Vyantara Deva said to Ghanavahana, "You have made an excellent achievement by seeking a refuge at the lotus feet of Lord Ajitanātha Svāmi. I request you not to return to your original kingdom situated in the southern ranges of the mount Vaitadhya. Instead, visit the Raksasa island and rule there." He then taught many vidyās to Ghanavahana and gave him a mystic garland protected by dieties, for, Vyantarendra considered Ghanavāhana his brother in faith. Thus, Ghanavahana became the ruler of Lanka in Raksasa Island. His wife Suprabha delivered a son, who was named Maharākşasa.
Once, King Ghanavāhana went to pay obeisance to Sri Ajitanātha Svāmi and hearing his sermon, he wondered, "Oh! I have became a slave of my senses. The love of a woman has shackled me! I am sinking deeper and deeper in the swamp which is called power! I am deceiving none but my soul. The life is an illusion. How can I trust my body that will perish any day, any time ? Thus, when I cannot trust my ownself, how can I trust others ? Can the unlimited political power, my family conferred in me, prevent the evil things that the future has in offing ? Why should not give up everything that is shortlived and embrace the eternal." Thus, overcome by dutachment, he coronated his son Mahāraksasa as the king and then went to Lord Sri Ajitanātha Svāmi. He made a great progress in realms of spiritualism and finally achieved mokşa. The inhabitants of Raksasa island became famous as Raksasas. These people were not ugly or hideous, nor were they carnivorous or cannibals. They were human-beings belonging to the category of vidyadhars. King Ghanavāhana was the pioneer of this race. Innumerable illustrious kings were born in this race. During the regime of Munisuvrata Svāmi, Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Bibhisana were born. Their father's name was King Ratnaśravasa.
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