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454
JAIN RAMAYAN
Turning towards his acharya he said......
"Gurudev ! Please recite the Navkarmantra. I will surely destroy my karmas."
Skandakacharya was in great anguish. He embraced the young muni and said, “Oh muni! You are indeed heroic. You are a lion. You must destroy your karmas. Say, "Victory to Rishabhdev. Victory to Munisuvrat." The young muni jumped into the crusher. Skandakacharya performed the final ceremonies for his disciples. The young muni was crushed but he attained salvation.
Now, Skandakacharya was the only one left. Palak was arbitrary in his attitude.
The acharya said;
"Oh Gods ! If I have really served you and attained spiritual excellence let me become a destroyer and destroy Palak, King Dandak and his kingdom.”
And then he leaped into the crusher. Palak crushed him also. After his death the acharya took birth as Agnikumardev.
A terrible event took in the garden of Kumbakarakat. Blood flowed over the garden. Palak who was covered with blood looked a monster and ran away from there. Crows and vultures swooped upon the garden.
Acharya Skandak's Rajoharan lay there drenched in blood. A vulture flying over the area, carried it away thinking that it was flesh. It found out that it was not flesh and dropped it.
Where did it fall? It fell at the window of Queen Purandarayasha. It was evening. The queen was reposing, seated at the window. She shuddered at the sight of something drenched with blood falling there. When she stood up and saw it she was petrified. It was a Rajoharan.
She at once called her attendant and asked her to wash it. She recognized the Rajoharan. Her heart began to palpitate with doubts and fears.
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