Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 2

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

Page 273

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CHAPTER ONE Surrounded by crores of gods, setting his feet on nine golden lotuses moved by the gods, the Lord entered the samavasaraṇa by the east door at dawn and circumambulated the caitya-tree in it three times. Saying, "Homage to the congregation, the Supreme Lord sat, facing the east, on the lion-throne placed on the dais. By means of the Master's power, the Vyantaras made images of the Master which were placed on jeweled lion-thrones in the other directions also. Back of the Lord's head there was a halo, in front an indradhvaja, and a drum sounded in the sky.
Entering by the east door, after bowing to the Arhat, the sādhus sat down and the sādhvis and Vaimānika-women stood in the southeast. The women of the Bhavanapatis, Jyotişkas, and Vyantaras entered by the south door, bowed to the Arhat, and stood in the southwest. Entering by the west door, the Bhavanapatis, Jyotiskas, and Vyantaras bowed to the Arhat and stood in order in the northwest. Entering by the north gate, the Vaimānikas, men, and women bowed to the Jina and stood in the northeast in order. Thus inside the first wall remained the holy fourfold congregation, inside the second wall animals, and inside the third wall animals used as conveyances.
Stuti (341-349) Then Sakra bowed to the Master and, his hands folded submissively, began a hymn of praise in a voice filled with devotion :
“You, though uninvited, are a helper ; tender though without cause; kind though unasked; a relative, though a stranger. I seek refuge with you, affording protection, who have a bland (snigdha) mind though not anointed with oil; who have a brilliant range of speech though not rubbed ; with spotless conduct though unwashed. The crooked thorns of karma were broken at will by you, not a fierce hero but an ascetic, tranquil, impartial. Homage to