Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 2

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

Page 195

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CHAPTER FIVE
stones, each one having its proper size, shape, color, and cognizance. He had these statues dedicated by flyingascetics, and he erected burial mounds and statues of his brothers, Bāhubali and others. While Vrsabha Svāmin was staying here, he declared to him (Bharata) the future Tirthakrts, Cakrins, Keśavas, Pratikeśavas, and Rāmas. Bharata made around it (the mountain) eight steps that have become stairs 326 because of which it was called 'Aşțāpada.'"
Saying with manifest joy, “This belonged to our ancestors," the princes ascended the mountain with their retinues. They entered the shrine Sinhanisadya and bowed to the first Jineśvara from afar at the first sight of him. They bowed with equal devotion to the statue of Ajita Svāmin and to the statues of the other Arhats. For they were truly devoted at heart. Then the princes bathed the images of the holy Arhats at once with pure fragrant water drawn by a charm, as it were. Some brought pitchers with water, some handed them over, some emptied them, and some received the empty ones. Some recited the bathing-precept, some took chauris, and others took up golden incense-burners. Others threw the choicest incense in the incense-burners, and some played musical instruments, conches, etc., aloud.
Then Mt. Aştāpada soon had double cascades from the falling fragrant water of the bath. Like jewelers, they dried the jeweled images with downy, soft new cloths resembling devadūşya-cloth. They anointed them with gośīrşa-sandal, excelling maid-servants (in skill), voluntarily and zealously, full of devotion. They adorned the statues with variegated wreaths of flowers, divine jeweled ornaments and beautiful garments. They designed the eight
326 105. Here is an inconsistency that I have not been able to solve. In 1. 6. 633-36 (I, p. 370) the mountain is made so that it can not be ascended. The steps, that are called 'stairs' here, were a yojana apart. Muni Jayantavijayaji suggests that in the long period of time that had elapsed, the mountain might have changed and become ascendible.