Book Title: Swayambhustotra
Author(s): Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp

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Page 211
________________ Svayambhūstotra Indra himself executed brilliant dance out of sheer joy, to great delight of all. Thus the janma kalyāṇaka of Lord Sumatinātha was celebrated with unprecedented joy by the residents of the earth and the heavens. This grand occasion arrived after 9 lakh crore sāgaropama and 10 lakh pūrva of the birth of the fourth Tirthankara, Lord Abhinandananatha. The Divine Child grew to a height of 300 dhanușa. After spending 10 lakh pūrva as youth (kumārakāla), He became a King and reigned for a period of 29 lakh pūrva and 12 pūrvānga. Once, as the Lord was reflecting on His past lives, He developed a strong sense of renunciation for the transient world. He decided to take leave from His kinsmen and subjects to take to the path of austerities that leads one to Supreme Bliss. The devas came down to celebrate the dikṣā kalyanaka of the Lord. The Lord rose and stepped into the celestial palanquin brought over by the devas. After traversing some distance in the palanquin, he finally turned His back for the last time on the world. He saluted the Perfect Souls (Siddha Parameṣṭhi) who had reached nirvāṇa before Him, pulled out the hairs of His head and face, and took to the observance of the great vows (mahāvrata). By observing great austerities and pure meditation, Lord Sumatinātha attained the Divine Light (kevalajñāna) that is characterized by all-embracing knowledge. Devas again came down in large numbers from the heavens to celebrate the jñāna kalyaṇaka of the Lord, to worship Him and to hear His Discourse. Lord Sumatinatha preached the Noble Doctrine for some time and resorted finally to the purest forms of Self-contemplation (sukla dhyāna). He destroyed the remaining non-inimical karmas and attained liberation (nirvāṇa) from Sammeda Śikhara on the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Caitra - caitra śukla daśami. As Lord Sumatinatha attained nirvana his Perfect Soul reached the abode of the perfected souls (Siddha Śilā) to live there permanently in a state of Supreme Bliss. Devas celebrated the mokṣa kalyanaka - 186

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