________________
CXXII
SITENDRA
Shri Rambhadra remained in that forest. In that desolate forest, there were countless animals and birds always moving about. Sometimes, they stood around him in great devotion and kept looking at him with fixed eyes. They spread their wings in great elation and engaged themselves in amusing sports before him; leaped about joyfully and went away. Birds singing melodiously flew over him beating their beautiful wings. The gods and goddesses presiding over the forest appeared before him; bowed to him, glorified him and disappeared. Wild lions, tigers and elephants approached him issuing loud cries of joy and jubilation and then moved away from him but Shri Ramabhadra remained absorbed in deep meditation. Sometimes, he fasted for one month; sometimes for two months and sometimes
three months and sometimes he fasted for four months and carried out extraordinary spiritual austerities. He was endeavouring to destroy his Karmas as early as possible. He was absorbed in spiritual austerities. Not only that; from time to time he assumed different postures to carry out meditation.
Sometimes, he sat in the posture called Paryankasan and sometimes in the Uthkatikasan and carried out meditation. Some times, he stood on one foot and with hands uplifted towards the sun and looking towards the sun, he carried out meditation. Sometimes, he stood on his toes and carried out meditation and sometimes for days and nights, he stood on his heels and meditated.
On account of these spiritual endeavours and psychophysical activities, he achieved an absolute victory over all his
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
