Jinamanjari 1995 09 No 12

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

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cold in the North has been treated by many poets. Prakrit poets give a refreshing accounts. The buffaloes in the winter are described.
"The buffaloes herds go to the forest for grazing. They enjoy the warmth of dung by their hind for a while. Otherwise the winter affects their moviements as well. They slowly return to the stables enjoying the dull rays of the sun (GV. 275)
Pravarasena (4th century A.D.) gives a wonderful account of the ocean in his immortal poem "Setubandha" written in Maharastri Prakrit. His poetic excellence is simply good. The vast expanse of sea is vividly described here in all its dynamic global proportions scaling the heaven and going seven fathoms deep into the nether world. Man is indebted to sea for his existence.
'The Goddess Earth is a majestic heroine treated sportively by sea - hero, who makes advances towards his beloved. She tosses her palms against him in a friendly denial which amounts to welcoming. Her palms are like the long stretch of trees spread, dancing in the air in tune with the tidal waves, on the coastal line. The eastern and western ghats peaks namely Mahendra and Malaya, in the process are sprayed withwaters from the sea. They are like the two breasts of mother earth. She is happy over this cool and soothening touch. The waves come forwards to embrace the sea shore and recede on separation leaving a mild tremour on the shore.
The poet with his magic - touch has immortalised a natural phenomenon here. Vakpatiraja inspired by this gives a similar account of the earth in his Bhu-stavah in Gauda-vaho. He has visualized the mountains and rivers of the Earth.
'The rays emerging that from the Earth's toes are fancied as tiny serpants set at lotus-like feet, and the goddess is held by his thousand hoods (GV. 1046).
'Devi's stomach with three resplendant wavy curves. They are shown as marks of plough-share from which she has emerged forth. The poet's imaginative description of the three curves on the stomach is interesting (GV.1052).
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