Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 1

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

Page 356

335 waves of the Kālindi. The figure of a makara glistened on the pillars on both sides of the arches, imitating the abundance of makaras always occupying the two banks of the Sindhu. On them gleamed four white umbrellas like silver mirrors of the four goddesses of the quarters. Banners waved by the wind shone on the pillars, giving the impression of tremulous waves of a Gangā in the sky.375 Beneath each arch was the pearl-svastika. etc., with the appearance of an inscription, “Here is the auspiciousness of the world."
A dais having been made on the ground there, the Vaimānikas made a jeweled wall like the wealth of the Srī of Ratnākara. They made a row of battlements of gems, like the circle of suns and moons at the boundary of the Manuşottara Mountains. The Jyotişpatis made a middle wall of gold, shining like a peak of Hemādri made into a circle. They made battlements of jewels, which had pictures, as it were, for a long time from reflections of the spectators. The Bhavanādhiếas made the lowest rampart of silver, giving the impression of the serpent Seșa made into a circle. They made a row of golden battlements like a row of Garudas in the water at the bank of the Ocean of Milk. In each wall four gateways were made by them, like those of the city Vinitā by the Guhyakas (Yakşas). In the gateways they made jeweled arched-doorways, made a hundred-fold, as it were, by their own rays streaming forth. At every door the Vyantaras set incense-vessels which had waves of smoke like streaks of collyrium for the protection of the eyes. 876 The gods made a dais in the northeast direction, like a temple in a house, inside the middle wall, for the Lord's rest. A caitya-tree, six miles high, was created inside the samavasaraņa by the Vyantaras, like a mast inside a ship. Then they made a jeweled platform under the caitya-tree, which by its rays made
875 112. There is supposed to be also a heavenly Gangā.
878 122. Collyrium, used by Indian women and children around the eyes, is believed to be beneficial as well as decorative.