Temple of Satrunjaya

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

Page 59

and make arrangements with the prince Jagamalla; there he would find the image of the Arhanta before the dharma-cakra; and by her aid he would be the establisher of a great tirtha as a mark of the sudharmans or orthodox believers. By bribes Javada succeeded in obtaining the prince's favour so far as to secure permission to carry away the images of Rsabhasvami and of Pundarika. With these he arrived in Saurashtra near his city of Madhumati. Before this he had despatched ships laden with goods to Mahacina, Cina, and Bhota, which were driven to Suvarnadvipa, 107 by adverse winds but now, the news comes that they had just returned freighted with gold. The news of this reached Javada just as another messenger informed him of the arrival of Sri Vajra Svami.108 Without affecting to notice the former, he hastened to salute the latter; and, while yet absorbed in the contemplation of Vajra, a god descended from heaven, who bowing himself before Vajra said: "Lord, formerly I was the son of Sukarman, the master of Tirthamanupura, named Kapardin, who abandoned himself to the use of intoxicating drink. Hear how I was saved by you, when about to be cast into the abyss by my sins. Once I was sitting on a lovely seat in a veranda, surrounded by women, sipping Kadambari wine and while raising the cup to my mouth I was thinking of thy name, when a snake, writhing in the talons of a bird in the air, dropped poison unperceived into the cup.109 I drank and the poison deprived me of my senses, nevertheless remembering the high formula (or mantra) I still perceived you, and blaming my vice more and more and thinking of you, and trying to pronounce the formula I expired, and was born again among the Yaksas. I am now called Kapardi-Yaksa, 110 and am followed by 100,000 Yaksas and able to do anything. Lord tell me what I am to do.” Then Vajra Svami told him of the height of Satrunjaya, 111 and encouraging Javada to make a pilgrimage thither to erect tirthas, promised, with the Yaksa, to aid him; at the same time, by a glance, he cured Jayamati, the wife of Javada the Sanghesa, 112 who had been made sick by the evil spirits of Siddhabhubhrt. They ascended the Sailendra or Satrunjaya with the image of Bhagavanta, and found the mountain defiled with blood, bones, etc, the temples decayed, full of dust, and at the mercy of the winds. During the night the demons
ght down the car with the image from the hill. The next day Javada's
107
Probably Burma, in Pali Suvannabhumi. Vajra Svami is the name of the last of the seven Dasapurvis (Hemacandra 34) who flourished about 37 A.D. Compare Stevenson's Kalpa Sutra, p. 12. Forbes calls him Kawad Yaksh, and the same as the one mentioned a little before; Weber thinks him a different personage. Siddhadri. Gujarati Sanghvi, the leader of a Sangha or band of pilgrims.