Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 6

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

Page 63

PREVIOUS BIRTHS
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pardon of (and bestowing on) (all) creatures, reflection,56 the resort to the four, the formula of homage, and fasting-the sixfold aradhana, Muni Nandana asked forgiveness of the teachers of dharma, the sadhus, and the sadhvis in full. After he had fasted for sixty days, he died in concentrated meditation, free from attachment, at the age of twenty-five lacs of years.
Incarnation as god (269-284)
He was born in the extensive palace Puspottara in Prāṇata and appeared on a couch. Within forty-eight minutes he developed into a magnificent god. He took off his divine garment, seated himself, and looked around. When he had looked at the manifestation-hall of the gods and the magnificence of the gods, he thought in astonishment, By what penance did I attain this?" By clairvoyance he saw his former birth and his observance of the vows. Oh! the power of the Arhats' dharma, " he reflected.
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Just then all the gods assembled, their hands folded in reverence, delighted, said to him who had been manifested as chief-god:
"Hail, master! Long live, delight of the world! Long live, blessing of the world! You are our master. Protect the conquered. Conquer the unconquered. This is Your Honor's palace. We are gods, who perform your commands. Here are beautiful gardens; here are deep bathing-tanks. This is the temple of the eternal Arhats; this is the council-hall, Sudharmā. Adorn the bath-house so that we can make the consecration with water."
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So addressed by the gods, the chief-god went to the bathhouse and sat on a lion-throne with a foot-stool. After he had been sprinkled there with divine water by the servant-gods holding pitchers, he was led to the ornamentation-hall. There
56 266. See I, p. 448.