Lord Mahavira Vol 01

Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

Page 87

78
Lord Mahavira readers of religious texts and their progeny, Mallakis and their progeny, Licchavis and their progeny, and many other chiefs, princes, nobles, mandavikas, kautumbikas, ivyas, sresthis, army commanders, foreign traders, and so on-some to pay homage, some to worship, some to pay compliments, some to show him regard, some just to catch a glimpe, and some out of sheer curiosity.
Some wanted to have some meaning clarified, some wanted to hear what they had never heard, some wanted to have their doubts clarified about what they had heard before. Some wanted to be clear about the fundamentals, such as, jiva, ajiva, about the nature of things, about logical interpretations, and about solutions given on the questions raised by others.
: Some desired to use the occasion to cut off all worldly relations and join the order as monks by permanently renouncing their homes. Some wanted to court the five lesser vows and seven educative vows prescribed for the householders. Some were attracted by devotion, and some because it was a family tradition.
Having thought like this, people took their bath, performed necessary propitiatory and conciliatory rites, made atonement to make their journey free from danger and put on beautiful dresses. They decorated their heads and necks with beautiful garlands. They decorated themselves with golden ornaments beset with gems. They placed round their neck necklaces, half-necklaces (ardhaharas), necklaces with three strings, decorated their waists with katisutras and placed other decorative ornaments on their person. They besmeared their limbs with sandal paste.
Some sat on horse back, some on elephants, some on chariots, palanquins, syandamanikas, some walked down on feet, surrounded by many other pedestrians all around, shouting, roaring, gossiping, filling the city of Campa with a great noise, a great commotion, giving it the look of a mighty ocean, all topsy turvy. They passed through the heart of the city of Campa and moved in the direction of Purnabhadra Caitya.
When they reached the vicinity of Bhagavan Mahâvîra, some of the supernaturals attending a Tîrthankara, such as umbrella, etc., came to their sight. Having seen them, they stopped their vehicles and alighted therefrom and came to the spot where Bhagavan Mahâvîra was seated.