Tale of Shree Nabhakraj

Author(s): Merutungacharya, Gunsundarvijay
Publisher: Divya Darshan Trust

Page 46

as also uttered Namutthunam Shakrastava (=prayers by King of deity). He saluted and bowed down to Shree Teerthadhiraj - Shree Shatrunjaya. He bowed down to the worthy-preceptors and welcome them with gold-gems jewels - pearls. He made beggars and deservings pleased and quenched of their thirst and demands by offering and donating as per their desire, and made everyone, especially the Jain-religion-followers, satisfied and happy with sweet and very tasty food.
KING NABHAK - The Great Donor
By walking on the path, the King and others reached upto the Talahati [land at the foot] of Shree Shatrunjaya. Walking behind the preceptors and climbing the holy mountain, the King looked charming as if heading - proceeding towards the fortress of freedom i.e. Liberation-Salvation. The King became the greatdonor like the Kalpavruksha (i.e. a divine-tree which use to provide ever wordly thing demanded from it.) by giving in donation - all the desired things to the donees at the time of first 'darshan' (sight) of the God and that of the Gods' temple by a unique celebration. He arranged for an eight days festival for the worship of the Jineshwardev (the God) and fulfilled all the various duties and dharmas of Shree Sanghapati (leader of group of Jains) in an excellent manner by the Gods' snãtra-worship-flag cermony implementing practice of non-violence love and devotion for followers of Jainism etc.
He inquired with the preceptors about the ways and means, rites and rituals to serve the place of pilgrimage, and upon getting the preachings. the King became firm and steady in the religious activities and after cleaning & purifying his body used to worship the God-thrice a day, He used to chant the Namaskar Mahãmantra - day and night. He used to take all the proper care to serve the preceptors and the followers of the Jain Religion - on the day of their pãrană (i.e.eating for the first time after a fast) - by proper and suitable food and water etc. In this manner, he completed one month with penance of 10 chauvihar chhattha, a chauvihar chhatth = two conservative day's fastings without use of any food & even water.
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