Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 2

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

Page 68

BIRTH OF AJITA AND SAGARA
43
Suterā, Sautrāmaņi, came, circumambulated and bowed to the Jina and the Jina's mother, and announced themselves. Singing the numerous virtues of the Master and the Master's mother, they stood at the intermediate points, northeast, etc., holding lamps in their hands.
The four Dikkumārikās living in the center of Rucakadvipa : Rūpā, Rūpāńśukā, Surūpā, Rūpakāvati, each one resplendent with a complete retinue as before, got into their big cars and came to the Arhat's birth-house. They circumambulated it three times, remaining in the cars themselves, and then stopped the cars in the proper place. Then, going on foot, they circumambulated the Jinendra and the Jina's mother with devotion, bowed to them and said :
“Hail ! Long live ! Rejoice, you whose son is for the delight of the world. O Mother of the World, this is a fortunate moment for us to-day because of the sight of you. The ocean (ratnākara), Ratnasaila (mountain of jewels), and the earth (ratnagarbhā)—these are useless. You alone are the source of jewels, since you have borne this jewel of a son. We Dikkumārikās, living in the center of Rucaka, have come here to perform the Arhat's birth-ceremonies. You must not be afraid.”
With these words, they cut the Supreme Lord's navel-cord, leaving a length of four fingers. They dug a hole in which they deposited the Lord's navel-cord like a treasure, and then filled up the hole with jewels and diamonds. They covered a platform over it with dūrvāgrass ? that shot up at once. Even gardens shoot up by the power of the gods. In three directions from the birthhouse they immediately erected plantain-houses 76 like houses of Sri. Inside of each they created a four-room apartment, and inside each of them a large lion-throne. Then they took the Tirthankara on their palms and the
75 224. See I, n. 143. 76 225. See I, n. 144.
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