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SAINT SCHOLAR PŪJYAPĀDA
AS RECOUNTED BY POET DEVACANDRA In His work Pujyapāda Carite
Jinamanjari, volume 17, No. 1, April 1998
Rendered into English
Prof. S.A. Srimandhar Kumar, Bangalore, India
In the state of Karnataka in southern India, there is a place called Hadinādu, which is known for its beauty and riches. There runs a stream and not far from it, there is a town called Kollegala with a temple dedicated to Lord Rṣabha. Very close to this temple, there are dwellings exclusively meant for the Jain monks.
The town's people were simple folks, quite ethical and well behaved. Madhava Bhatta of was one of the residents of Kollegāla. He was well versed in the Vedas and grammar. His wife was Śridevi. The couple did not have issue for a long time.
In the course of time one early morning before rising from the bed, Śridevi had a dream, in which she saw an Iravata, a bull and lotus flower. Following this auspicious dream, Śridevi became pregnant. From then onwards, she began to think of follow Jain religion and performing its nompi festival, which in the faith is undertaken by women when material things are to be achieved. When she conveyed this to her husband, Madhava Bhatta vehemently opposed, but on her continuing request, he agreed that she could incorporate Jaina principle for nine month period. In order to undertake the nompi, the couple went to the Jain temple and after bowing to the Jina, they approached the Jain monk there seeking instructions on how the nompi should be carried and followed. The monk advised the couple that to do so that they should know the Jaina
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