Temple of Satrunjaya

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

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reached maturity, Bhavada sent his wife's brother to Kampilya to find a spouse for him. On his journey he passed one night at Ghatagrama, at the foot of Satrunjaya, and there saw Sucila, the daughter of Sura, a merchant of good family, and asked her for his nephew. The maiden replied that she would accept Javada on condition that he should answer four questions she would ask concerning the definitions of the four puruşārthas or human objects of attainment.103 These were successfully replied to, and the marriage celebrated. After Bhavada's death, Javada ruled the city with mythic wisdom. Now, "on account of the power of the Dusama age", an army of Mudgalas104 swept over the land like a tide of the sea violently driven up. The Mudgalas took with them "grain, riches, children, women, men of middling, low, and high condition from Saurashtra, Kachha, Lata, etc." Then permitting the various castes to resume their occupations, the Mudgalas distributed great wealth, whence Javada-also among the captives-acquired vast riches by trading. He gathered round him his sect in one place "as if it had been in an Arya country" and erected a caitya to Mahavira. Holy men (Munis) "wandering in Aryan and non-Aryan countries" visiting it, were well received. Hearing from them that "during the pañcama ārā, Javada is the founder of tīrthas", he inquired whether by this he himself or another Javada was meant. He was told in reply that, "the guardians of Pundarika, in course of time, had become malicious, living upon intoxicating beverages and flesh", that they had drawn around the Pundarikadri or Satrunjaya a circle of fifty yojanas, and whoever overstepped it will fell in the hands of the wicked Kaparda Yaksa. Hence the Sri Yugadijinesvara (Rsabha Deva) could not be worshipped. "But now the time had arrived to effect its restoration, and he was destined to do it". They accordingly advised him to endeavour through the adoration of Cakresvari,105 to find the image of the first Jina, founded by Bahubali. After a month's penance she appeared to him directing him to go to the town of Taksasila 106
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These are dharma, artha, kama and moksa.
In the Gujarati translation 'Mugals'.-Forbes, Ras Mala, Vol. I. p. 10. This is the Sasanadevi of the first Jina. It is also the name of one of the sixteen Vidyadevis. Hemacandra, 239,ed. Boehtlingk & Rieu, p. 39; Weber u. Satr. Mah., p. 43,note.
The Taxila of the Alexandrian historians; it is mentioned in the Puranas, and is famous in Buddhist legends. It was situated at the modern Hasanabad or Hasanabadal, near Manikyala. "In this fortunate place", says Hiuen Thsang, "while the Tathagata lived as a Bodhisatva, he was king of a great realm, under the name of Candraprabha." Conf. Strabo, XV. p. 698; Wilson Visnu Purana, pp. 385, 386; Wilford, Asiat Res., Vol. IX. P. 51. Remusat, FoeKoue-ki, p. 74; Laidlay, Pilgrimage of Fa-Hien, p.73; S. Julien, Voy. des Peler. Buoddh, tom. I. pp. 89, 262; tom. II. pp. 151-155; tom. III. pp. 317-319; Court, Jour. Asiat. Soc. of Bengal, Vol. V. p. 468. Col. Tod, apparently on the authority of this legend, calls Javada "a merchant of Kashmir".-Travels, p. 281.
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