World Of Jainism

Author(s): Vishwanath Pandey
Publisher: Vishwanath Pandey

Page 96

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THE ORIENT
Having heard these words, which meant the slaughter of so many innocent animals he, full of compassion and kindness to living beings, decided to renounce the world and then he presented the charioteer with his ornaments and clotes.
Everyone including the gods coming to know of Aristanemi's resolution gathered together to celebrate and witness the Great Renunciation. Thus surrounded, sitting in a palanquin Aristanemi left Dwarka for Mount Raivataka, (modern Girnar in Saurashtra), and there in the presence of the whole assembly he plucked out his hair in five handfuls, called technically Panca-musti-loca. Aristanemi renounced the world. An erstwhile prince, about to be married to a beautiful princess, was now a homeless, naked ascetic in search of truth and happiness for the suffering humanity.
With but one exception, the story in the canonical work is faithfully represented on a ceiling carved in the marble temple of Lunavasahi, built by Tejapala, a minister of Viradhavala of Gujarat in 1232 A.D., at Delwara on Mount Abu.
The ceiling is divided into 7 horizontal sections. Each section depicts a part of the story. Beginning from the bottom;
SECTION I:- shows the dancers and musicians which led the marriage procession of Aristanemi.
SECTION II: - the battle between Krisna and king Jarasandha with Aristanemi in a chariot."
SECTION III:- the musicians, army and clansmen.
SECTION IV: - (from right; first, the arrival of Aristanemi in a chariot; second, animals tied for slaughter in an enclosure; third, the marriage pandal, called 'Cori', a square tent-like bower constructed with seven brass or earthern pots, supported by stems of plantain trees, and decorated with festoons of garlands; fourth and fifth, the elephants guarding the entrance of the palace and horse stable; sixth, gateway to the palace of Rajimati; seventh, two storied palace, with chamberlain announcing to Rajimati and her friends the arrival of Aristanemi.
SECTIONS V, VI, VII, face upwards. Chronologically first comes Section VI, then VII and lastly V.
SECTION VI: (from right) Aristanemi seated on a throne in the midst of the assembly of gods and men, giving money and food in charity for a year before he became a Jaina. SECTION VII: (from left to right) first, a scene which cannot be exactly identified; it shows Aristanemi seated on a throne attended by fly-whisk bearers and others; second, Neminatha seated in meditation-pose and plucking out the hair in five handfuls.
SECTION V:- (from right to left) first, procession of gods and men carrying Aristanemi to Mount Raivataka; second, Aristanemi, now Neminatha, standing erect and motionle practising penance (kayotsarga).