Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

Author(s): Dharmdas Gani, H C Bhayani, R M Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 28

Introduction
guards. V. was brought to that lock-up, where without food or drink_he awaited his fate in utter darkness, but with equanimity and resignation.
All of a sudden the floor of the cell was torn open and there appeared Anilayasa. She told V. how she had fallen in love with him since the time she had seen him at the Kosthaka shrine pilgrimage, and how this feeling had got more and more intense as she heard about his suparhuman exploits. She had burrowed an underground passage with the help of Vidya and had brought meals for him (p. 152). V. told her that he had vowed to abstain from food until he got his release. Unhappy Anilayasa went back; but soon she returned. Afraid of being found out by her attendants, she had gone back to install in her apartment her second form created through Vidya. She released V. from the fetters. V. realized that Anilayasa was powerless to take him out of the dungeon. She spent that day and the following night there. In the morning she put back fetters on V. and left the dungeon, covering the underground opening by means of her Vidya.
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Shortly the guards took V. out and under Vayuratha's orders brought him bound all over with fitters before the image of the Sankukā-Vidya. As the ugly executioner, ordered by Vayuratha, raised his sword to severe V.'s head for offering to the deity, there was a violent trembling in the image. Then it sprang up, rushed at Vayaratha, emitting flames of fierce rage from her mouth and threatened him with the words 'You wretch, here you die !" Trembling all over, Vayuratha fell at her feet and her feet and so also all the other Vidyadharas. At that moment the image caught hold of V. and flying through air, brought him to a mountain peak that was covered with thickets. (p. 154).
She removed V.'s fetters. V. made to clasp the feet of the goddess in worshipful reverence, as she had saved his life. He was however somewhat intrigued by seeing her feet like those of a young girl adorned with anklets, At that moment she caught V.'s face in her delicate hands and said, 'Don't do that my lord, I am your humble servant Anilayasa'. V. raised his eyes and saw Anilayas in her unparalleled charm and beauty. The golden image of Sankuka lay there by her side on the ground.
V. thanked Anilayasa and granted her wish that he should remain always united with her. She described the sarroundings of the place where she had brought V. It was mount Simanaga or Himat. At the foot of the peak there was a Rabha temple called Dharaṇudbheda, because it was constructed by the Serpent King Dharana at the time when he