________________
a&o
CHAPTER THREE and astrologers, the queen, delighted, passed the time, carrying ber embryo.
On the tenth of the dark half of Pausa, (the moon) in Rādhā (Viśākhā), she bore a son, dark blue in color, marked with a serpent, like the ground at the foot of a mountain bearing a jewel. The fifty-six Dikkumāfiş came there instantly and performed the birth-rites of the Arhat and the Arhat's mother. Şakra came there, gave the queen a sleeping-charm, made an image of the Arhat and put it at her side. He created five forms; with one he took the Lord, with two he took chạurīs, and with another the umbrella over the Lord. Twirling the thunderbolt with another, going ahead with beautiful leaps, his gaze fixed on the Master's face, his head turned, he went quickly.
Şakra arrived at the rock Atipāndukambalā on Meru in a moment, seated himself on a lion-throne, and took the Lord on bis lap. The sixty-three Indras, Acyutą and the others, went there quickly and performed the Lord's birth-bath properly. After placing the Lord on Iśāna's lap, Şaudharma's Indra bathed him properly with water gushing from the bulls' horns.336 After making the anointing and worship of the Lord of the World, Vāsava, his hands folded respectfully, began a pure hymn of praise.
Stotra (35–41)
“ Homage to you, the color of priyangu,337 the source of kindness to the world, the sole bridge for the crossing of saṁsāra hard to cross. Homage to you, Blessed One, sole treasury of the jewels of knowledge, having the color of a blooming blue lotus, sun for the lotuses of bhavyas. Homage to you with the sign of a serpent, with the one thousand and eight favorable marks of a man, moon for dispelling the darkness of karma. Homage to you, purifier of three worlds,
336 33. For the bulls, see I, p. 125. 337 35. I.e., very dark.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
