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Story of Ramo tit Jain Literature
Sita's Repudiation
CANTO IX:
Canto IX narrates that Sita was honourably received by king Vajrajangha of Pundarikapura; on receiving Sità's message Rāma lamented his folly, went to the forest in search of Sita, but in vain; Sitā gave birth to twin sons who received the names Anangalavana and Madanānkuša, they were carefully brought up and taught various arts and sciences by Siddhārtha; Rāvana was married to a daughter of King Vajrajangha; King Prthu refused to give his daughter in marriage to Ankusa as the family of the boy was not known; invading Prthu's kingdom the twins proved their valour; Nārada gave the story of the birth of the twins, the marriage of Ankusa with Prthu's daughter was celebrated; the twins, invaded Ayodhyā; Bhamandala learning of Sita's repudiation went to her, took her to the camp of her twins, the twins disregarding Bhāmandala's advice fought and overpowered Rama and Laksmana in the fight; Siddhartha and Narada effected the union of the twins with their father Rāma; Sitā returned to Pundarīkapura; Ráma and others entered Ayodhyā; Sita's fire-ordeal, god Harinagavesin at Indra's order came to help the chaste and pure lady; Rāma proposed her to go with him and enjoy pleasures; Sitā was disgusted with Samsara, she tonsured her head, Rāma fainted, Sită then entered the ascetic order at the hands of Muni Jayabhūsana.
then drew Ravana's feet in a picture. As chance would have it, Rāma, at that time, came there. Those co-wives then told Rama to note that Sità was still remembering and desiringRāvana and to corroborate what they said, they showed him that painting. Nobleminded Rāma returned as he came. They then spread the scandal, through their female attendants, among Rama's subjects. People then started slandering Sità and finding fault with Rāma for his blind folly in taking back to his bosom the wife who was so long a captive in the palace of Rāvana. The motifof jealously thus utilised by Hemacandra heightens the artistic beauty of the poem. In this Canto Hemacandra as usual gives some good Subhasitas :
1. Vfrå hi prajāsu samadrstayah v.3. 2. Viveke hi na raudratā v. 148. 3. Naikatra munayah sthiräḥ v. 235 4. Dharmah saranamāpadi v. 274.
