Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 351

OMNISCIENCE OF MAHAVIRA
311 his rule prevails on earth. He, with unlimited power, will make this earth adorned with temples of the Jinas in almost every village. In every village, in every city on earth, as far as the sea, he will make a chariot-procession of the statues of the Jinas. Constantly giving money, freeing the world from debt, he will brand his own era on the earth.241
One day he will hear from the mouth of his guru in the course of conversation that the statue consecrated by Kapila is covered by sand. Then he will form the wish, “ Digging away the sand, I shall take the all-purifying statue.” At that same time, knowing the impetuosity of his mind and other reasons, the king will resolve that the statue shall come into his possession. Obtaining the guru's permission, appointing agents he will undertake to dig up the ground at Vitabhaya. Then the messenger-deity will make an appearance, because of the noble character of the king, an advanced layman. By the great merit of King Kumārapāla, the statue will appear at once in the place being excavated. Then the grant over villages that was given to the statue by King Udāyana will appear, also. The king's agents will put the statue—though old, like a new one-on a chariot, after they have made a fitting pūjā. The agents will bring the statue to the edge of the city, many kinds of pūjās taking place on the road, concerts being held constantly day and night, special dances with hand-clappings of young women of the villages taking place, musical instruments with five notes played excitedly, and fly-whisks rising and falling on both sides. The king will go to meet it, accompanied by his harem and attendants, surrounded by the four-part army, taking the whole congregation. After taking it down from the chariot himself and mounting it on a noble elephant, the king will escort the statue to the city. Establishing it in the play-house near his own house, Kumārapāla will make a pūjā properly three
241 77. If there was a Kumārapāla era, it was very brief and there is no record of it.