Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

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and jewels; thirty-two each of round iron seats, thrones and other charming things, clothes, ornaments, etc., precious objects giving pleasure to the creatures of samsara." Kubera at once had that done by Jṛmbhaka 169 gods. For the command of those having powerful commands is accomplished with the utterance. Then Vasava instructed the Abhiyogika-gods: "Proclaim aloud to the four classes of gods, 'If any one thinks anything unfavourable to the Arhat and the Arhat's mother, his head will split into seven pieces like the clusters of blossoms of the ariaka.'" 170 They proclaimed that to the Bhavanapatis, the Vyantaras, Jyotiskas, and Vaimānikas, like pupils repeating the speech of a distinguished teacher. Then Sakra inserted nectar composed of the juice of various foods in the Master's thumb, just as the sun puts a watery substance in the circle of rays named amṛta.' Moreover, when hunger arises, since the Arhats do not nurse, they suck their thumbs which pour out juice. The Lord of the gods appointed five Apsarases to perform all the nurses' duties for the Lord.
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Then many gods, immediately after the Jina's bath, went to the continent Nandiśvara direct from the peak of Sumeru. The Indra of Saudharma also went from the house of the son of Sri Nabhi to Nandiśvaradvipa, the abode of the gods. Then Sakra descended to the Añjana
wrought' gold. The commentator to Acar. II. 2. I. II explains it as 'unwrought.' Hoernle also favors this for Uv. I. 17, n. 22. Malayagiri (Ava. p. 192) explains hiranya as 'wrought' and suvarna as 'unwrought."
189 623. These gods are servants of Kubera.
170 625. The Ocimum gratissimum, the rām-tulsi. Its blossoms grow in clusters, but the number is not always 7. It varies from 6-10. 171 627. For an explanation of this idea, see Raghuvansa 10. 58, and Mallinatha's commentary with a quotation from Yadava. The idea is that certain rays of the sun, 400 in number, named amṛta carry a watery vapor and are responsible for rain. There is probably also an allusion to the fact that the vein leading to the thumb is called 'amṛta,' and the whorl on the end of the thumb is called 'cakra.'
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