Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

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

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Story of Rama in Jain Literature
CANTO XXVI:
A king Cakradhvaja had a daughter Atisundara who eloped with a fellow-student called Madhupingala, the son of a Purohita. The couple lived together in Vidarbha. Once, a prince Kundala-mandita, enamoured of her, took her away. Madhupingala wandered in search of her and then became a monk. Kundalamandita lived in an inaccessible fort and began to invade the territory of king Anaranya. A vassal of the king, however, took Kundalamandita captive. The king after some time released him. He wandered in order to obtain his father's kingdom. But on his way he met his death. The soul of a Des1 and of this Kundalamandita are, as a result of karman conceived in the womb of Videtà, the wife of Janaka. Meanwhile Madhupingala is dead, and born as a god. He knows by his avadhi knowledge that his enemy, Kundalamandita is conceived in the womb of Videha. When she delivers a son and a daughter, the god immediately takes away the boy and then leaves him in a garden, from where a Vidyadhara, called Candragati takes him up and adopts him as his son. He named the son as Bhamandala. The daughter of Janaka is named as Sita and grows to her youth. (Birth of Sita and Bhamandala)
CANTO XXVII :
The country of Janaka was once invaded by the Mlecchas.3 Janaka sought the help of Dasaratha. Rama persuaded his father to allow him to go against the Mlecchas. Then Rama accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa and his army left Ayodhya to help Janaka. There ensued a fierce fight between the Mlecchas and the armies of Rama and Janaka. Rama defeated the Mlecchas to the great rejoicing of Janaka. Being pleased with the valour of Rama, Janaka decides to offer in marriage his daughter, Sita to Rama. (Description of the defeat of the Mlecchas)
CANTO XXVIII :
Once Narada went to the mansion of Sita with a view to seeing her excellent beauty. Seeing him Sita was frightened and ran away to the inner apartment. Närada who was following her was insulted by the door-keepers and officers. Getting angry Narada decided to bring Sitä into difficulties. He went to Ratha-nupura, the capital of Vidyadharas; there in a garden he drew the figure of Sha Bhamandala was enamoured of the maiden in the picture when he had a look at it. Narada made it known to Bhamandala that the maiden in the picture was no other than Sitä. Having come to know the lovesickness of his son, Candragati managed to bring Janaka there. He asked Janaka to give Sitä in marriage to Bhamandala. Janaka refused as Sita was already betrothed to Rama. Candragati proposed that Rama should marry
37 vv. 5-8 speak of Ardha-barbara country (lying to the North of Kailasa Mountain), peopled with Mlecchas and their ru'er 'Ayaramga' and of Kamboja, Suka and Kapeta countries inhabited by Sabaras. Mayuramala was the capital of Ayaramga, the king of barbarians. He with his army of Kiratas starts plundering Janaka's territory.