________________
116
Appendix-5 The foundation of Vānaravaṁsā
Vāli, Sugriva, Angada and Hanumana are referred to as Vānaras- apes in the epic Ramayana. They weren't monkeys or apes, but they were Vidyadhars belonging to the clan of apes. Why were they called apes when infact they were specially abled men?
During the regime of Lord Śreyansanatha, the island named Raksasa was ruled by King Kirtidhavala. During these days, King Atindra ruled Meghapuranagara, which was situated in the southern ranges of the mount Vaitadhya. He had a son named Srikanta and a daughter named Devi. She surpassed the celestial beings in beauty. When she reached puberty, King Puspottara of Ratnapuranagara proposed King Atindra that princess Devi be married to his son Padmottar. He had a daughter Padma. King Atindra did not accept the proposal and gave away his daughter Devi to King Kirtidhavala of Raksasadvipa in marriage. The enraged king Puspottara nurtured enemity against King Atindra and Prince Srikanta. It is common for a man to treat anyone, who does not respect his opinions and views, as an enemy. It is not ethical to impose one's own point of view on others. Since the king of Ratnapura lacked this understanding, he developed enemity with Atindra, the king of Meghapura.
Once, the young prince of Meghapura, Srikanta, had been out for an excursion. During his return journey, he noticed Princess Padma, the daughter of King Puspottara. The princess too noticed him and both fell in love at the first sight. For a moment, the princess thought, "I wish that this handsome prince abducts me, so that we can spend the rest of life together." The wise prince understood what the princess thought, he gathered courage and immediately grabbed her by hand and carried her in his aircraft. The maids of the princess raised a commotion. When King Puspottara learnt that his beloved daughter has been abducted by the son of his deadliest foe, he was enraged. He summoned the army and boarded his aircraft. He, at once, began the search for his daughter.
The young prince Srikanta hurried towards Lanka and seeked a refuge from King Kirtidhavala, who was married to his sister. He narrated his love story to King Kirtidhavala. In the meantime, King Puspottara traced him and laid a seize to Lankanagara. King Kirtidhavala sent his emissary to King Puspottara. The emissary said, "O King, you wanted your daughter to marry a man of your choice, but your daughter has willingly selected Prince Srikanta as her life partner. We must respect her
view and must refrain from fighting. The war and its subsequent results will ruin the joy and and life of your own daughter, whom you no doubt love more than your ownself. On behalf of my king, I appeal you to join the nupital of Prince Srikanta with Princess Padma and confer your blessings on them. I think, this is what the time demands.
A maid came hurrily to the King Puspottara and said, "Master your daughter Princess Padmadevi desires me to convey you this message. She said, 'I was not abducted forcefully, but willingly moved with Prince Srikanta. I, by my own will, have chosen him as my life partner." When King Puspottara heard this, he was pacified. He happily joined the grand wedding proceedings, and having blessed the couple, left for Ratnapura.
Kirtidhavala, the king of Lanka, said to Prince Srikanta, "Pray, do not return to Meghapura, for you have many enemies in the southern ranges of the mount Vaitādhya. I do not say that you are not capable of tackling them, nor do I think you to be a timid person, but it is not right to live under a constant threat of agression. What's more, we love you so much that the thought of being separated from you, strikes our heart with a terror. Besides Raksasadvipa, I also rule the Vanara, Simhala, Barbarakula and many other islands. You may settle down in any island of your choice and rule it without any fear. Prince Srikanta accepted this proposal and selected the Kiskindhanagara in Vanara island as his kingdom. King Srikanta was not only kind and friendly to the human beings, but also to the apes and monkeys, that were in abundance at the Vanara island. He appealed the citizens to take care of the apes and not to hurt them. He served the best food to the apes and monkeys. The citizens too followed the example of their king. They accepted the monkey as a totem. The picture of a monkey received a place of honour on their national flag and insignia. Thus, the inhabitants of the Vanara islands, though they were Vidyadhara humans, were called Vanarasmonkeys. Their clan became famous as the clan of apes. King Srikanta was the first king of the Vanaras and his son was the valiant Vajrakantha.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
