Jain Stories 03

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

Page 84

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JAINA STORIES
When one's evil stars are up, everyone turos his back on him or her This happened to Anjana. Her parents did not receive her, her brothers and their wives turned their back on her and did not as much care as to look at her. So the two ladies once again returned to the forest and took shelter there Days passed in this way.
One day, they met a great monk aod Anjana expressed a curiosity to know about her past Revealiog this, the mook said,
"Kanakratha was the king at Kanakpuri He had two queens named Kanakodari and Laksmivatı Kapakodari gave birth to a son, but somehow Laksmivati stole the newborn child and kept it in hiding Kanakodari was very much 10 distress at the loss Now, a pious neighbour reasoned with Laksmivati that she had done a very wrong thing in hiding the child from the mother And after 12 hours, she returned the child in an angry mood But Laksmivati was not inherently bad She propitiated the gods, preceptor and religion, and so after death she was born in Saudharina-kalpa. Having exhausted her life-span in that celestial abode, she is born now as Adjana, But the karma of her previous birth was affixed on her soul It has now attained maturity, and so 12 hours have become 12 years ”
Turning to Vasantatılaka, he added,
“You were her sister at that time, and you had approved of her misdeed Your karma has also come up, and so you too are suffering with her. But the hardest part of your time is nearing its end, and it will gradually improve hereafter. Then the great lady's chastity and firmness will shine in full brilliance. The lady's maternal uncle will soon come here and will take you both to his palace where you will spend some time Then you will meet with Pavananjaya.”
Anjana and her friend continued to live in that forest waiting for the time when fortune might take a turn for the better In the same cave, a son was born unto Anjana, and the lady had more sorrow than joy No ceremony could be organised 10 that forest to receive the new child. It was about this time that a Vidyadhara, Pratisurya by name, saw