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clothes, ornaments, and flower-garlands. Śrāvakas (nale lay-men devotees of the linesvaras) and Śrávikas (female devotees) became overwhelmed with grief and they lamented the loss very bitterly. Sådhus (monks) and Sādhvis (nuns) were in distress.
With a heart rending with agony, Śakréndr. placed the dead body of Sramaņa Bhagavāna Mahāvira on the funeral pile, Agni Kumāra gods ignited the pile, and Vāyu Kumāra gods kindled it briskly with gusts of forcible winds. Other gods poured scented powders, and hundreds of pot-measures of ghee (clarified butter) into the blazing fire.
The bones, teeth etc of Tirthankaras are considered very holy. Gods and goddesses take them to their celestial abodes and worship them. When the flesh and other soft tissues of the dead body of śramaņa Bhagavāņa Mahāvira, were burnt up, Mégha Kumāra gods extinguished the fire of the funeral pile with waters of Kşira Samudra (Milk Sea). Sakréndra and Ida. néndra took the upper right molar and the upper left molar respectively. Camaréndra and Balindra took the lower right molar and the lower left molar tooth respectively. Other gods and goddesses took other teeth and pieces of bones. Human be. ings took away the ashes of the burnt body of Sramaņa Bhagavāna Mahāvira, as a valuable relic of remembrance of the Worshipful Lord. On the site of cremation, the gods erected a handsome pillar of precious stones.
All the Indras and gods and goddesses, then, went to Nandiśvara Dyipa, and there they celebrated an Aşthanhika Mahotsava (a great festival lasting for eight days) in the Śaśvata Siddhāyatanas (Permanent Temples of Deities in Déva-lokas). Soon after going to their respective celestial abodes, the gods and goddesses placed the teeth and pieces of other bones in adamantine circular boxes resting on a jewelled pillar in their individual Vimāna (aerial car),
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