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KUVALAYAMALA
[iv. Kuvalayacandra's Journey to the South ] KUVALAYACANDRA WORSHIPS JINA IN THE VINDHYA FOREST: Then Kuvalayacandra proceeded to the South crossing the Vindhyan peaks, spotted with camps of wild tribes and presenting various scenes (described 112.3-25). By the time he reached the Vindhyan forest, the summer set in, and its effects on the forest, on the animals, on the town ladies were obvious (described § 197). The mid-day heat was oppressing to one and all. He was very thirsty, and from the appearance of elephants arriving there he could infer the presence of a lake which he soon reached to his great joy. Being aware of dietectic rules (reference to Āyuhśāstra, 114.22-8), he did not drink water at once. He rested for a while, and then enjoyed a hearty bath there. Thereafter, he had his thirst and hunger quenched with water and lotus fibres and stalks. While in search of fruits and flowers, he saw in a bower an image of Yaksa crested with a pearl-statue of Arhat or Jina, to his great dismay and heightened reverence. He bathed, worshipped the Jina, offered prayers, and prostrated himself in salutation (Pages 112.2-115.15; *50.12-40),
KUVALAYACANDRA MEETS KANAKAPRABHĀ IN THE TEMPLE: At this juncture there was an upheaval in the lake, and there emerged from it a lovely maiden, attended by a little girl. To save them from embarrassment, Kuvalayacandra hid behind the statue. They were surprised to see the Jina lately worshipped by somebody; and it was inferred with justification that the worshipper must be a great man. They duly offered their worship, and started singing dvipadi lines, attracted by which Kuvalayacandra disclosed himself complimenting them for the fine recitation. The prince and the Yakşa-kanyā greeted each other as co-religionists, and were very much eager to know mutually. The prince introduced himself; and then she narrated her biography to satisfy her curiosity (Pages 115.16-116.33; *50.41- *51-18).
RATNA- OR JINA-SEKHARA'S BIOGRAPHY AND KANAKAPRABHA'S GIFT OF MEDICAL COIL TO KUVALAYACANDRA: In the town of Mākandī (described 117.1-5), there lived a Brāhmaṇa couple, Yajñadatta and his wife Sāvitrī, quite ugly in appearance. They had thirteen issues of which the last was (Yajña-) Soma, on whose birth there occurred a terrific famine extending over twelve years and with devastating results (described 117.13-21). The town of Mākandī was in utter desolation. The Brāhmaṇa family became extinct; but Soma, however, survived as a destitute, in utter misery. He was a Brāhmaṇa in name only and was about sixteen, when the famine was over. Remorseful about his fruitless life and miserable plight, Soma decided to leave Mākandī and migrate to some other territory. He reached the Vindhyan forest by summer (described 118.16-24). Losing the track, and wandering nervously all alone, oppressed by thirst and hunger, he reached a lake (118.28-30), There he took bath, drank water, and chewed lotus-stalks. While in search of fruits, he saw in a bower the pearl-image of Ādinātha, the like of which, he remembered, he had seen in Mākand, and felt great respect for it. Full of devotion, he surrendered himself to Jina and resolved to remain there ever worshipping Adinātha's feet. In course of time, he died of colic; and, as he breathed his last with his eyes devotedly intent on the face Rsabha-jina, he was born in the region of
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