Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

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

Page 48

Story of Rāma in Jain Literature
CANTO XXXVI :
Pütana bestows gifts on Rama and party then winds up the 'Rama-puri'. Rāma and party cross the forest and reach Vijayapura. There was a king Mahidhara who had a daughter Vanamāja. She was in love with Lakşmaņa. The king learning of Lakşmana's departure to forest decides to offer her in marriage to a prince of Indranagara. Vanamäla would rather die than marry any one else except Laksmana. Under the pretext of worshipping the Vanadevatā she goes out to the region where Rama was sojurning. At night she attempts suicide but Lakşmaņa saves her. Lakşmaņa reveals his identity. They all then meet. Mahidhara is happy at the meeting of Laksmana and his daughter. Rāma and party were taken to the city. There they stayed enjoying king Mahadhara's hospitality. (Vanamalā. )
CANTO XXXVII :
King Ativirya in order to conquer Bharata seeks the help of Mahidhara. Rama and party who have an under:tanding with the king leave for the capital of Ativirya. A Jain goddess whose temple Rāma has visited promises to help him in his mission. She turns them all into beautiful women.'? Now Rāma and others, thus disguised, visit the royal assembly; and the dancing girl ( who is really Rāma ) impresses one and all with her performance. She exhorts the king to accept Bharata's sovereigoty. Ativirya is enraged at this, wants to kill her. She, however, holds the king by his hair and tells him that she would set him free on condition that he accepts Bharata's sovereignty. Rāma takes him to the Jain temple. At the word of Sita, Lakşmaņa sets Ativirya free. He is, however, enlightened. Placing Vijayaratha on the throne Ativirya accepts asceticism. ( Ativirya's Entering the Ascetic Order.)
CANTO XXXVIII :
Vijayaratha gives his sister Ratimālā in marriage to Lakşmaņa and Vijayasundari to Bharata. Then Rāma and party go to the town Kšemāñjali. There Lakşmaņa withstands the five powers ( Saktis) of king Satrudamana and thus wins his daughter Jitapadmā. (Narrative of Jitapadmā)
CANTO IXL :
Rāma and party cross a forest and reach Vamśa-sthala town near Vamsagiri. There they find people running hither and thither. They learn that a very terrific sound is heard on the mountain-peak and people taking fright are running to seek king's shelter. Rāma and party go to the mountain. There they free two monks called Deśabhūşaņa and Kula-bhūsana from their upasarga (calamity) caused by their former enemy. The monks obtain perfect knowledge. One of the monks narrates
42 It is indeed very strange tat we are told Icre of Räma and others being transformed into
women in order to humliate king Ativirya and avoid himsa).