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Description of Temples
75
the Upadeśa-saptati (A.D. 1447) of Somadharma gani of Tapā-gaccha and one
abandha figuring in the manuscript 'P' included within the Purātana Prabandha Samgraha; it seemingly is of the early 15th century. The cryptic accounts of both works agree in regard to the essential facts, though differ in a few details which would imply that both had before them one common and the other a different source. According to Somadharma's account, one Pāsila of Arāsaņagrāma, who was best among the śrāvakas, and was the son of minister Gogā, had lost his wealth. Once he went to Pattana (Anahillapattana) for selling ghee and oil. After finishing the business, he went for paying obeisance to his guru. There he engaged himself in measuring (the dimensions of) the Rājavihāra. At that moment, Hāṁsi, the daughter of the billionaire Chādā who (had in his coffers) 99,00,000 gold coins, laughed (at Pāsila) and asked: "Brother, why are you measuring (the temple); are you planning to build (such a monumental and magnificent) caitya?” Responded Pāsila: "Sister, it professes to be a very difficult job; a child cannot hope to weigh the Suvarṇācala-mountain; however, if I indeed succeed in building a temple (prāsāda), do come (to Arāsaņa) to attend (the consecration ceremony.)” So saying he returned to his village and invoked Ambikā who appeared before him after his fasting for ten days. By her grace, the lead mine (in the neighbourhood) turned into silver mine. (From the income he thus got) he started building the temple sacred to Lord Nemi. While the work was underway, his guru visited the karmasthāya (hut) and inquired about the progress in building). Pāsila replied that, by the grace of god and guru, it is progressing well. Ambikā, who was listening, felt that this person is ungrateful. Within 12 praharas (36 hours) the silver mine turned back into lead mine. The temple proper by then had progressed only up to the sikhara. The source of funding dried up, he met the guru and also the ‘sister' (Hāṁsi) in Pattana and intimated them about his plans (under the circumstances) to proceed now with the installation ceremony. Thereupon the sister demanded a (sacred) garment to be given her and she then declared that a hall to the temple will be added by her. And she built the hall called 'Meghanāda' at the cost of nine hundred thousand (drammas). Other temples (devakulikās ?) were erected by (other) tradesmen. At the end of this account, Somadharma quotes a verse from some (earlier) work, which states: “The well-talented 'faithful', namely Päsila, son of minister Gogāka, built the lofty temple to Lord Nemi: The crest-jewel of the Nirgrantha (sect) and the disciple of the preceptor Municandra sūri, namely Vādīndra Deva sūri the preceptor, consecrated (the cult image of) Nemi."
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