Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 391

SRI MAHĀVIRA'S NIRVĀŅA
351 Then the year was Candra; the month Pritivardhana; the fortnight Nandivardhanaka; the day Agniveśa and it had another name, Upaśama; the night, Devānandā, Nairsti by another name; the lava, Arcya; the prāņa,266 Sukla; the stoka, Suddha; the muhūrta, Sarvārthasiddha; the karaṇa,267 Nāga.
At that time (the creature) kunthu by name originated, which can not be lifted up. It can not be seen by the eye when it is motionless. When it moves, it can be seen. When they had seen it, with the thought “Henceforth, self-control will be difficult to preserve," many sādhus and sādhvis observed a fast.
The light of knowledge, the Master, having been extinguished, at that time all the kings made material lights. From that time among the people also a festival, called Dipotsava, takes place everywhere on that night by making lights. The gods, their eyes full of tears, bowed to the body of the Teacher of the World and remained near, grieving over their lack of a lord. Then Sakra regained composure and måde apart a funeral pyre from fuel of gośīrsa-sandal brought from the groves of Nandana, et cetera. He had the Lord's body bathed in water from the Ocean of Milk and Hari himself anointed it with divine unguents. After putting divine garments on it, Sakra himself lifted up the Master's body, bathing it again, as it were, with tears. Watched by weeping gods and asuras, Sakra laid the Lord's body on a bier that was equal to the best aerial car. His grief restrained somewhat, Purandara took the Master's bier on his head, like the Master's command. The gods rained divine flowers on it, crying, “Hail ! Hail ! ” just like a troupe of bards. The gods sprinkled the earth all around with fragrant rain mixed with water from their own lotus-eyes. The Gandharvas sang
256 244. A prāna is the time required for inspiration and expiration; 7 prānas=1 stoka; 7 stokas=1 lava. K., p. 337.
267 244. A karapa is half of a lunar day.