Jain Ramayana Part 1

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 54

42
JAIN RAMAYAN
Thus, Kulachandra explained to him the real nature and the efficacy of the powers that can be attained by means of Mantras.
On an auspicious day, Ratnashrava, obtained the blessings of his parents; and set off from Pathal Lanka in order to achieve supernatural powers, by means of Mantras and occult arts.
Ratnashrava entered a beautiful garden by name Kusumodyan which was situated outside the city. He was full of thoughts relating to the guidance given by his teacher. It fully pervaded his personality and kept resounding in every beat of his pulse. He began to look for an appropriate time for beginning his meditation. He liked very much the serene place beneath a peepal tree which stood in the North-east of the garden (Isanya). He entered the chump of bushes beneath the Ashoka tree, selected a suitable place and purified the place by washing it with water fetched in a basin from a nearby pond.
After that, he folded his hands, remembered his deities with heartfelt devotion; and when lofty contemplations arose in his mind; with an elated mind, he sat upon the chosen spot; and sitting in the lotus posture (Padmasan) concentrating his eyes on the edge of his nose, he began to recite the prescribed Mantras. Within a short while, he was deeply absorbed into that strange world of Mantras and Tantras (occult arts).
Ratnashrava who sat thus deeply absorbed in meditation resembled a statue carved out of some invaluable stone. He sat absolutely silent and still. He was absolutely motionless. Every organ of his; nay, every hair on his body was still and motionless. Moments, ghatikas, hours, days, weeks and months came and went. But Ratnashrava did not show any changefulness. or impatience in his endeavours to achieve his objectives.
When a person grows impatient and listless for the attainment of his objectives, he loses his mental calmness, firmness and competence; and there appears agitation in his mind. So, soon his endeavours will be frustrated. The desire for the fruits becomes totally frustrated and he begins to throw the