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On the way to the Conquest of the World
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intellectual and can scrutinize his actions and his motives in the light of such events.
Soon, Ravan proceeded with his followers, relatives and friends to have a Darshan of the Jin Temples and images built by Bharath on that mountain. At the entrance to the temple, he discarded all his weapons such as Chandrahas and entered the temple; and there adored and glorified with his heart overflowing with devotion, all the twenty four Tirthankars from Bhagwan Rishabhdev upto Vardhaman Mahavir; and performed the eight kinds of worship.
Then, he was immersed deeply in worshipping the Lords with the emotion of devotion. He took up his Veena in his hands. The strings of the Veona began to produce sweet melodies as his fingers kept dancing on them. Ravan's queens began to sing melodiously to the accompaniment of the instruments on which they played. Their songs blended with the melodies of the Veena. It was a unique and extraordinary combination. Now, the waves of devotion in the form of sweet melodies filled the atmosphere of the Ashtapad mountain. The listeners were spell-bound.
The wheel of time moved softly and smoothly, unimpeded by anything. Ravan was trying to express his anguish and agony that lay in the depths of his heart, through the melodies of the Veena; and was trying to penetrate the heart of the Paramatma by means of those melodies. In Ravan's world, the Tirthankar Bhagawan occupied the highest position. He was deeply immersed in his meditation on the Paramatma. Ravan who forgot himself in a contemplation on the creation of the Paramatma was swaying in ecstasy absolutely free from all anxieties and worries; and was endeavouring to attain a greater and greater degree of proximity to the Paramatma.
Meanwhile, a heavenly being who happened to be sitting in a lonely corner of the temple, kept watching every action of Ravan's with fixed eyes. He was supremely pleased with the devotion of Ravan for the Paramatma.
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