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Introduction
CCXXXIII the temple of Arishtanemi, the history of which he is narrating, existed in the time of Jinaprabhaşūri and that a festival in memory of the flag-hoisting day was held on the fullmoon day of every Mārgasīrsha. According to the tradition learnt by Jinaprabhasūri the fag-hoisting ceremony first took place in the year Khilji. The tradition, that he narrates, he learnt, as he himself says, from the mouth of antiquarians' (hea
garagi ai ). I translate it below as it appears to contain some historical facts.
“Formerly there was a very rich merchant named Jakkha in the city of Siri Kaņņa-ujja (Kanouj). He, once upon a time, with a caravan of bullocks, taking merchandize with him, in order to trade, started for Gujjaradesa which was a part of Kannaujja* and given as dowry to Mahanigă-the daughter of the lord of Kannauajja. In due course he encamped in Lakkhåráma on the bank of the river Sarassaī ( Sarasvatī). Indeed it was formerly the place where Anahillavādaya was founded. Encamping his caravan, as the merchant was residing (lit sitting ) there, monsoon approached. The clouds began to pour down. Once upon a time in the month of Bhaddvāya (Bbădra pada ) that caravan of bullocks suddenly disappeared. Nobody knew where it had gone; a search was made but in vain. Then in a dream came Bhagavai Ambādevī to him whose heart was aching with anxiety on account of this almost total loss of property. She spoke "Dear boy! are you asleep or awake?” Jakkha said "Oh Mother ! how is sleep possible to me whose caravan of bullocks-whole property-is lost?” The goddess spoke" Good man ! In this Lakkhārama there is a triad of idols uuder a tree of Ambiliyā. Get three men to excavate it. One idol is that of Siri Aritthaņemi, another that of Siri Pāsanāha and the third that of Ambiyādevī." Jakkha asked “ Bhagavai ! There are many Ambiliya trees; how am I to recognise that particular region ?” The goddess answered
For the explanation of this apachronism of the tradition see p. CVIII.
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