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 LXXX :
Canto LXXX opens with a description of the glory and prosperity of Sāketa. Rāma erects temples of Jinas and makes the city as lovely as Indra's capital. The people are happy and prosperous. They, however, find one fault with Rāma. They express their disapproval of his having received Sitā back who was abducted and sported with by the lord of Lavka. Such a reprehensible act does not become men who are born in noble Kşatriya families and are proud and have a sense of honour.
Now Bharata is not interested in sanh sāra. Rama comes to know of Bharata's disgust with worldly life through Kaikeyi He requests Bharata to carry on the admi. nistration of the kingdom as before. Sitä and Bharata's wives try to divert his mind by water-sports in a lake. He comes out of the lake and worships the Jinas in his heart Just then the Tribhuvanālamkāra elephant breaks loose destroying everything that comes in his way. He goes to Bharata. He remembers his past birth and decides to act in such a way as to obtain liberation. (Commotion caused by the elephant Tribhuvanālamkāra).
CANTO LXXXI :
Rāma and Laksmana bring that elephant under control and hand it over to the care of the prime minister. The elephant does not take any interest in things of the world This serious condition of his is reported to the two brothers who think their kingdom is not worthwhile without that elephant. (Cause of heart-rending grief of Bhuvarālamkāra)
CANTO LXXXII :
Canto LXXXII tells of the past lives of that elephant through the sage Desabtūşaņa. He further tells that the elephant desires to take to asceticism. (Description of the past lives of Tribhuvanālamkāra)
CANTO LXXXIII :
Canto LXXXIII speaks of the Diksā accepted by Bharata and later on by his mother Kaikeyi. (Initiation of Bharata and Kaikeyi)
CANTO LXXXIV :
That elephant, devoted to Sāyāradharma, becomes a god after its death. Bharata by virtue of his penance attains first perfect knowledge and then liberation, (Bharata's attaining to liberation)
CANTO LXXXV :
Viradhita informs Rama and Laksmana of Bharata's Nirvāņa. They are naturally grieved to hear it. Now kings approach Rāma requesting him to accept the throne. He declines and then Laksmana takes the throne. Rāma appoints Vibhişina as, the lord of Lankā, Sugriva pf Kişkindhi and so on. (Coronation Ceremony)