Story Of Rama In Jain Literature

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

Page 58

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Story of Rama in Jain Literature
it at Laksmana. It circumambulates Laksmana and mounts his hand. [Manifestation of the jewel (-like) (or the best) Cakra-Disc]
CANTO LXXIII :
Laksmana, the Cakrapani, is Narayana and Rama Baladeva. Vibhigana makes an eleventh hour appeal to Ravana to hand over Sita to Rana but in vain. Now Laksmana hurls the disc at Ravana; it splits open. his chest and he falls to the ground dead. The poet gives the date of Ravana's death as the eleventh day of the dark half of the month of Jyestha."
Sugriva and Vibhisana assure the Raksasa army that began to face at Ravana's death. [Slaying of Ravana (the ten-faced one)]
CANTO LXXIV:
Vibhisina attempts suicide at his brother's death; Rama, however, prevents him from that. Ravana's wives appear on the serne and piteously weep. Rama comforts the weeping Vibhisana. Blamandala tells the story of Priyankara, which enlightens Vibhisana Priyankara-upakhyanam (Episode of Priyankara)]
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CANTO LXXV:
Kumbhakarna, Indrajit and Meghavahana are released. Rama and Laksmana press them to enjoy royal glory. They decline. Lavana's sons ask a monk, Aprameyabala (i. e. Anantavirya) about their past lives. Hearing the account they become monks. Kumbhakarna, Mã ichi, Mandodari and Candraṇakhã also accept asceticism. (Renunciation of samsara by Indrajit and others)
CANTO LXXVI:
Rama and Laksmana enter Lanka; Rāma anxiously inquires about Sitä who is in Padmodyana. He and Sita are united 2; gods testify to Sita's purity and chastity. Laksmana and others pay their respects to Sita. [ Union of Sita (with Rama)]
49 Canto LXVI speaks of the festival observed in the month of Phalguna; and Canto LXXIII tel's of Ravana's death on the eleventh day of the dark of Jyestha. Now the interval between these two dates does not agree with the actual days taken by the mighty heroes to bring the war to an end.
50 Rama pays compliments to Ravana when he speakes of him as 'Bahu-sastra-panditaḥ'.
51 Th's tale of Priyankara is introduced to illustrate the truth that
जो जत्थ समुप्पज्जइ सो तत्थ रह कुणइ जीवो ।
....A being finds delight in whichever condition of life he is born.' Priyaikara, who is foretold that he would be born as a worm in his latrine, asks his son to kill him when he is so born. Actually, however, when he is so born, he at the sight of h's son runs away to save his life thus providing the truth contained in the line quoted above.
52 It is noteworthy that Rama has absolutely no doubt about Sita's purity ard chastity and he readily embraces her to his bosom. In the Ramayana of Va'miki, Rama, we are told, repudiates Sita on suspicion of infidelity. Poor Sita has to undergo a fire-ordeal to prove her innocence..