Vasudevahimdi Madhyama Khanda Part 1

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

Page 29

Vasudevahimdt: Majjhima-khamda
bestowed Vidyas on the first Vidyadhara kings of Bharata, Nami and Vinami, who had been soliciting Ṛsabha engaged in austerities. Dharana had laid down that any one who attacked even a hostile person within the moun tain premises would perish along with his family. There was another temple there constructed by Triviṣṇu's son Srivijaya to commemorate his uncle Acala Balabhadra's attainment of Absolute Knowledge. A third temple was constructed by the Vidyadhara sovereign Amitatejas. She had brought V. there because the palace was safe from enemy's attacks. (p. 156).
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They went to worship at the shrines. The Sankuka image was deposited a a shrine. As V.'s vow was fulfilled, he broke his fast by eating berries. In a beautiful bower of creepers V. married Anilayasa according to the Gandharva rites, and they passed the night in enjoyment. In the morning V. duly installed the Sinkuka image in the shrine and performed worship (pp. 156-157).
Once when V, asked Anilayasa to take him flying through air to the top of a peak for enjoying the sight of dancing peacocks she revealed the loss of her Vidyas. It was the result of the punishment she had ircurred for entering the image of Sankuka to frighten Vayuratha and others in order to save V.'s life. But at that time some other divine power too had entered the image and that power was mainly to be credited with V.'s rescue, while Anilayasa gave only a semblance of help. She would have lost her life for this transgression, but V.'s greatness as a person worked as the saving power. Hearing Anilayasa's account V. realized how great was her sacrifice in his behalf.
Roaming through the wood-lands on the Dharapudbheda range of the Samanaga, they found on a hillock wonderfully sweet wine, produced through natural fermentation of rotten flowers, leaver, fruits etc. that had fallen from trees. They spent many days happily on that mountain. (pp. 157-160).
VIII Winning of Vaidary amālā (pp. 161-172)
Once the Simanaga mountain was visited by crowds of Vidyadharas, it being the occasion of the annual festival of initiation in the ceremony of acquiring the Vidyas. It was a one-night festival held on the grounds of the Jina temples. Anilayasa identified for V. various Vidyadhara princes, including Prabhavati's father Pavanavega. Moving incog. nito in the midst of the festive crowds, both of them were pleased to hear the Vidyadharas talk impressively about the wondrous powers and exploits