Jain Stories 01

Author(s): Mahendramuni, K C Lalwani
Publisher: A B Jain Shwetambar Terapanth Samaj

Page 66

JAINA STORIES
"As he looked around, he saw a ditch with flames emerging out of it Many beautiful men and women in wonderful dresses and jewellery were coming and going out, or moving to and fro Musical instruments were playing soft music As he was enjoying the scene, a divine person came and stood beside him Said he, 'Hello, sir, how was the mango tree?" Amvada startled, but in a moment, he composed himself and retorted, 'Who was the monkey? Why is this fire? Why is this drama?
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"The deva now started his delineation' I am Hansa,ruler of Laksmipur in the nether world It is I who had placed the monkey on the tree and improvised the mango tree to bring you here This was an assignment to me from the Vidyadharas, and there's a purpose behind the whole thing King Sivakara of the city of Sivankara did not have a son He propitiated all means for it, but to no effect Then a monk named Visvadvipa gave him a fruit to get him a son, and the fruit was to be shared by the king with the queen But the king acted foolishly and took the whole fruit himself Soon he developed all signs of pregnancy This was a great shame He stopped appearing at the court and cancelled all public engagements But the matter could not be suppressed and the report spread like wildfire throughout the town None had now any doubt that the king would meet with a premature end
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'From the seventh month since conception, the king started having false pain, and it was terrific and unbearable. The king had no rest even for a moment The Vidyadharas then held a meeting, at which one suggestion was that Deva Dharanendra should be propitiated but the question was, who was to do it for the king At last, the king's brother Sivasankara offered himself to do this and this was approved by everybody The propitiation started on an auspicious day and the deva made his appearance on the seventh day