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RISABHA DEVA
As sallekhanā ripened into accomplishment, culminating in the separation of the old companions—the spirit and the body of flesh-a movement was noticed among the lovely 'draperies' of the birth-bed in the heavens. Instantly the devas surrounded the heavenly throne, and took their stand in due form round it. A great deva was expected to grace the heavens !
Only a moment intervened between the departure of the great spirit from the body of flesh and the returning of consciousness. Mahābala, now embodied in the ethereal matter of the celestial regions, opened but again 'closed' his eyes at once. The splendour of deva-life was too much for his consciousness. He wondered where he was. Perhaps it was a dream that he beheld. But whatever it was, it was very fascinating! He got, however, little or no time to think; the organising forces were still at work furiously. “Ah, I now recollect," he said to himself, “ I am Mahābala!” It was the faculty of clairvoyance which had matured in the interval. He opened his eyes, got up, and was overwhelmed with the delightful scenery of the heavens and the attentions of the devas and the heavenly nymphs !
Mahābala was now called Lalitānga (literally, of attractive limbs). He got up, and, remem
