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154
JAIN RAMAYAN
Vanara warriors made arrangements for camping there; and within the twinkling of an eye, the vast Rakshasa army gathered on the magnificent banks of the Rewa. The surrounding areas were filled with the noises of the commotion of thousands of horses, soldiers and others.
Ravan's tent was pitched on the bank of the river, in the midst of fascinating surroundings. Smaller tents were put up for Kumbhakarna, Vibhishan, Sugriv, Meghavahan and Indrajit at various distances.
Ravan had not yet completed his worship of the Jin. He used to take his food only after worshipping the Jin, as a daily and regular ritual, whether he was in the city or in a forest; whether he was on a pilgrimage or on a military campaign. He never broke his principle of worshipping the Lord before taking his food. For this reason, wherever he went, he used to carry the Jin idol with him. Even while going to make a war, he did not forget to carry with him a Jin image studded with gems. After completing his daily activities such as taking a bath he wore beautiful white dress. He got a spot beneath a tree washed with holy and scented water; placed the image on a small golden throne; and began worshipping it.
He performed Abhishek to the image with the pure and pellucid water of the Rewa. He decorated the image with beautiful and fragrant lotuses and other flowers. He sat absorbed in devotion and meditation forgetting himself fully; and he was absorbed in carrying out the lofty worship. Suddenly, floods appeared in the river Rewa. The calm and cool water of the river began jumping and leaping. Waves began to rise and fall. Suddenly, mighty waves rushed with a Satanic force to devour the banks of the river. When those waves crashed against the high, solid banks, they began to collapse and fall down. Huge trees fell into the river with a deafening noise, and began floating on the floods of the river. The entire bank of the river was covered with water. All the creatures in the water such as crocodiles and fishes began whirling in the midst of the
waves.
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