Book Title: Yasastilaka and Indian Culture
Author(s): Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur

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Page 488
________________ 467 going forth to behold Sirima.' When the young monk, lying thus, heard the name Sirima, he leaped quickly to his feet. Someone said to him, 'The Teacher is going forth to behold Sirima; will you also go?' 'Indeed I will go', he replied. And tossing the rice out of his bowl, he washed it and put it in his net and then set out with the company of monks. APPENDIX II The Teacher surrounded by the Congregation of Monks stood on one side of the corpse; the Congregation of Nuns and the king's retinue and the company of lay disciples, both male and female, stood on the other side of the corpse, each company in its proper place. The Teacher then asked the king, "Great king, who is this woman?" Reverend Sir, it is Jivaka's sister Sirima.' 'Is this Sirima?' 'Yes, Reverend Sir.' "Well! send a drum through the town and make proclamation, Those who will pay a thousand pieces of money for Sirima may have her." Not a man said 'hem' or 'hum'. The king informed the Teacher, They will not take her, Reverend Sir.' 'Well then, great king, put the price down.' So the king had a drum beaten and the following procla mation made, 'If they will give five hundred pieces of money, they may have her.' But nobody would take her at that price. The king then proclaimed to the beating of a drum that anyone might have her who would give two hundred and fifty pieces of money, or two hundred, or hundred, or fifty, or twentyfive, or ten, or five. Finally he reduced the price to a penny, then to a halfpenny, then to a quarter of a penny, then to an eighth of a penny. At last he proclaimed to the beating of a drum, 'They may have her for nothing. Not a man said 'hem' or 'hum'. Then said the king to the Teacher, 'Reverend Sir, no one will take her, even as a gift.' The Teacher replied, 'Monks, you see the value of a woman in the eyes of the multitude. In this very city men used to pay a thousand pieces of money for the privilege of spending one night with this woman. Now there is no one who will take her as a gift. Such was her beauty who now has perished and gone. Behold, monks, this body diseased and corrupt.' So saying he pronounced the following stanza: Jain Education International 147. See this painted image, this mass of sores, huddled together, Corrupt, once possessed of many thoughts, but now possessing neither strength nor stability." APPENDIX III SAIVA TEMPLES AND THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION GUJARAT The power and influence of Saivism is reflected in the numerous old temples dedicated to Siva, which exist in various parts of India, and in many cases, go back far beyond the limits of the tenth century A. D. We may commence our survey with the celebrated temple of Somanatha on the seashore, in south-western Kathiawar, at Somanathapattana, close to the modern port of Veraval. Somanatha was no doubt earlier than the tenth century, and For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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