Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

Author(s): V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Saraswati Pustak Bhandar

Page 36

Story of Rāma in Jain Literature
this badge of Vănaras. 16 The canto, further, relates the fight between the Vidyadharas on one side and the Vanaras and the Rākşasas on the other, the defeat of the latter, their shelter in the Pātāla-Lankā, the revenge taken by the sons of the defeated heroes, and finally the entering into ascctic order of the heroes and their followers. ( The topic of Entering the Ascetic Order of the Raksasas and Vāparas.)
CANTO VII :
Canto VII treats of Indra, the overlord of the Vidyadharas, of Soma, Varuna, Kubera and Yama, the guardians of the universe, of Vaiśramaņa (who is distinct from Kubera, a cousin of Rāvana) and the birth of Ravana, his sister Candranakhā, and his brothers Bhanukarņa and Vibhișana. Rāvana and his brothers acquire enormous magic powers by virtue of penance.1? v.v. 135-145 give the names of these different lores. These are: (1) Ākāśa-gāmini (the power to travel in the air), (2) Kāma-dayini, (3) Kamagāmi, (4) Durnitārā, (5) Jagat-Kampā, (6) Prajñapti ( esoteric knowledge), (7) Bhānumālini, (1) Laghimā (power of assuming excessive lightness at will), (9) Animā (power of becoming as small as an atom), (10) Manas-stambha-kāriņi (the power to cast spell on others ), (11) Akşobhyā (unconquerable will), (12) Saṁvāhini, (13) Suradhvamsi, (14) Kaumāni, (15) Vadha-Kāriņi, (16) Suvidhânā, (17) Tamorūpå, (18) Vipulākari, (19) Dahanī, (20) Subhadāyini, (21) Rajorūpā, (22) Dina-rātri-vidhāyini (the power by which day and night can be produced at one's will), (23) Vajrodarī, (24) Samaksști, (25) Ajarāmarā, (26) Visamjñā, (27) Jala-stambhani (power of making oneself water proof), (28) Agni-stambhani (power of making oneself fire-proof), (29) Giri-Dāriņi, (30) Avalokani (power to see through all things), (31) Aridhvamsi, (32) Ghorā, (33) Vijā, (34) Bhujangini (the power to live upon air ), (35) Varuni, (36) Bhuvanā, (37) Dăruni, (38) Madanāśini, (39) Ravi-tejā, (40) Bhaya-janani, (41) Aiśāni, (42) Jaya, (43) Vijaya, (44) Bandhani, (45) Varahi, (46) Kuţilakņti ( the text separates the two words as 'Kudila' and Kitti'), (47) Vātodbhavā, (48) Sakti, (49) Kauberi, (50) Sankari, (51) Yogesi, (52) Bala-mathani, (53) Candāli, (54) VarşiniThese lores Rāyana acquired. And the lores acquired by Bhānukarna are: (1) Sarvarha, (2) Rati-vặddhi, (3) Akāśa-gāmini, (4) Jțmbhani, (5) Nidrāņi and by Vibhișaņa : (1) Siddharthā, (2) Aridamani, (3) Nirvyāghātā, (4) Kha-gāmini. Rāvana was not a ten-headed monster. He was called 'Dasa-mukha' because his face reflected in the
16
The interpretation of the 'Vānaras' as Vidyadharas with monkeys as their badge is obviously realistic.
17 In this canto we are told of the severe austerities which Rāvana and his brothers practise.
They all stand heroically all the horrible and dreadful upasargas caused by the Yakşa-chief of Jambüdvipa. 'This tapas invests them with a spiritual glory and grandeur which is at once striking. Especially Rāvana proves the most heroically calm of the brothers when he faces the heart-rending apparitions. He remains motionless (like the prince among mountains ) deeply absorbed in his yogic contemplation. This shows his high character and a
ssion worth c anoneths wonderful command over passion, worthy of a prince of ascetics.'