Lilavati Sara

Author(s): Jinratnasuri, H C Bhayani, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 44

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friends accepted the preceptor's advice. The latter fixed up the date their cermonial initiation (1-21).
Acceptance of Religious Vous by the Five Friends (22-111)
The king and his four friends returned to the city. Vijayasena crowned his son Jayasimha as his successor. The ministers and the feudal lords handed over their respective households and duties to their eldest sons. The king then invited the interested persons to join along with him the monastic order. He said af. w words of advice to his son regarding the proper state policy and care for the wellbeing of his subjects He also requested the feudal lords to love and respect the new king.
Before the appointed day. all the five friends celebrated the Eight Day festival (Aştāhnikā), at the end of which they left the city ceremorionsly. Alms were levishly given. They kept awake during the night preceding the day of initiation. The next morning, riding a falanquin born by a thousand men, they went to the preceptor and formally requested him to admit them to the order. After their initiation, they moved along with Sudharmasrāmin to Campā. Seeing his enemy Vijayasena as a mook king Vimalasena hought of killing him, but Sudharman's words deterred him. He begged their pardon, Ultimately Vijayasena and the nire others ended their lives by religious fasting.
Their Rebirth as the Vaimāpika Gods (112-178)
They were reborn in the Saudharma heaven as Vaimānika gods. They were welcomed by tne servants, who described to them all the pomps and pleasures they were entitled to. They read the instruction-books for guidance in their career as gods. They worshipped the one hundred and eight images of the Jipas and they sang hymns of one hundred and eight verses composed extempore. They enjoyed in rivers, went for the pilgrimage to Nandiśvara and celebrated the festivals of the birthdays of Jicas.
Once they attended on the Mount Raivataka the sermon of lord Nemi. They extolled him with a hymn, and asked him about the time of the termination of their life in heaven. The Lord revealed that the end of their heavenly life would synchronise with his attainment of Siddhi. They would be reborn in Bharata aad eolightened by god Śūradeva, they would attain final liberation. At this they got a promise from Sūradeva to enlighten them at the proper time. All the ten returned to their respective Vimāoas. They were unhappy at the pending loss of godhood. Shortly the Vaimānika god Jayaśāsaga disappeared all of a sudden.