________________
304
As this time, some of the srāvakas held a meeting in a caitya. "Was there no Kapardı-yaksa, no Amba-Dévi, no Brahma-Santi or yaksarāja to protect them?"-They thought They were baffled-puzzled. When they had lost almost all their hopes there arose before them Sasana-devi and said, "The great vyantaras of the Mlecchas have removed all the goddesses-and demigods. So how can they help you? Besides, this city is destined to be destroyed at the hands of the Turks after three years! Yet I am showing you a way to escape this calamity. If you adopt it, the Śrī-Sangha may be protected. In Nadola-city.there is Manadéva Sūri. Go there, wash his feet and sprinkle water over the area of calamity, and soon it will be over. But then, when the calamity is over, you should leave the city and go away elsewhere!" So saying, she disappeared.
All the Śrārakas unanimously sent Viradatta to Nāḍola with a letter of request written to Manadéva Sūri. Viradatta came to the city and went to the Upāśraya. When he entered it Mānadéva Sūri-seated in the Paryanka-Position-was in deep meditation with his eyes fixed on the top of his nose, and Jaya and Vijaya-the two goddesses also were sitting in one corner-waiting for salutation. Viradatta entered the room and was shocked to see the sight-the two unknown females sitting in a corner!! His mind became full of doubts He thought, "It is noon time, the place is solitary, and the presa. nce of these women!! Really Sasandévi has cheated us! It seems that the Guruji is pretending to meditate, as he must have seen coming !" He went out, and sat out-side till the Guruji finished his meditation. When he went again before him he saluted him immodestly The goddesses were enraged and punished him, there and then, and tied him with a rope. Then, the Guruji showed pity and he was released. The goddesses said to him, 'O sinful person? Were you not ashamed to call in question the character of his holiness-the Guru Mahārāja ! Did you not mark that we are goddesses? Our sight is devoid of nimesa, ( twitching ), our feet touch the ground,
never
Jain Education International
For Private Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
