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16
Jațāyu meets Rāma
Atonement of Commotion by
Rāma-Lakşmana After sunset, a diety named
Trigupta muni preaching the trio Anangaprabha descended to the
Mount Managiri, in the dense forest of mountain. He had vicious inclina
Dandakaranya was made a temporary dwelling place tions and was the cause of the
by the trio. One day, Trigupta and Sugupta, two commotion. Rama and Laksmana
monks belonging to the carana category, reached challenged him for a combat.
mount Mahagiri flying by air, to end their one month's Anangaprabha could not match
fast called Masaksamana. Rama and Laksmana rethe two young men in valour and
ceived them with warmth and offered them food etc. fled. The two sages that were penancing attained the purest
The celestials in the heaven were very knowledge which is called
pleased with their generosity and showered costli
est gems and fragrant water, from the skies above. Kevalagyāna.
King Ratnajati of Kambudvipa, alongwith two dieties,
arrived there and gifted him a unique and mystical The celestial beings de
chariot and horses of renowned pedigree. A ill bird scended on the mountain to cel- named Gandha, residing in thick forest, descended ebrate the occasion. Grand fes- from the tree, being disturbed by the fragrant show
er. Just as he gazed at the two monks, he recalled tivities began. King Surprabha of
his previous births. The strange experience, how Vasasthala arrived to felicitate ever, unnerved him, and he swooned. Sita sprinthe sages and the brave warri
kled water on him. On regaining consciousness, he
touched the feet of the holy monks. The moment he ors. A shrine of Arihanta Prabhu
touched their feet, he was at once healed by the was built on the mountain; since power of touch-medicine which they possessed. His then the mountain Vamśaśailya
wings received a golden hue and crest that resem
bled luminious gems, grew on his head. This crest became famous as Rāmagiri.
is called Jata in Sanskrta and the bird acquired a From there, they entered new name-Jatayu. Rama asked the monks, "This is
a carnivorous bird and when he touched your feet, Dandakaranya.
we noticed a total transformation not only in his ex
ternal appearance but also in his spiritual makeup." For Personal & Private Use Only
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