Part 6: Birth-Rites of Abhinandana

Fifty-six Dikkumārīs came, each from her own abode, and performed suitably the birth-rites for the Queen and her son. When Śakra knew the Arhat’s birth by the trembling of his throne, he and the gods, seated in Pālaka, came to the Lord’s house. Śakra descended from his car, entered the Lord’s house, and there paid homage to the Master and to the Master’s mother. After he had given a sleeping-charm, the Vāsava of Saudharma (Śakra) placed an image of the Arhat at the Queen’s side, and he himself became fivefold.

One Śakra carried the Ford, another an umbrella, two others chauris, another, twirling the thunderbolt, went ahead dancing. In a moment Śakra reached the rock Atipāṇḍukambalā and sat down on the lion-throne, holding the Lord on his lap. Then the sixty-three Indras, Acyuta, etc., with their retinues came and bathed the Lord with pitchers of water as was fitting. Īśāna also became fivefold and took the Master on his lap, one holding the umbrella, two the chauris, and another the thunderbolt, going in advance. Śakra created four crystal bulls in the four directions, and bathed the Supreme Lord with the water rising up from their horns.

After he had anointed the Lord and had worshipped him with clothes, ornaments, etc., and had waved the light-vessel, Śakra, his hands folded submissively, recited the following hymn of praise:

Stuti:

“O Master, fourth Lord of the Tīrtha, sun of the sky of the fourth spoke of the wheel of time, publisher of the glory of the fourth object of existence, hail, O Ford. Now the world having a lord with you as lord after a long time will never be attacked by delusion, etc., robbers of discernment. May the dust of your feet, resembling particles of merit, settle on my head falling at your foot-stool. My eyes are fixed on your face. May the impurity that arose from looking at what is not worthy to be looked at be washed away instantly with waves of water from tears of joy. May my horripilation arising after a long time from the sight of you drive away the memory of the sight of unworthy things which was produced for a long time. May my eyes be always dancing on your face; may my hands always do worship to you; may my ears always be listening to your merits. If my voice, though slow, is eager for the utterance of your merits, then indeed there is happiness for it. How otherwise? I am your servant, your slave, your worshipper. I am yonr menial. Say ‘Very well,’ O Lord. Henceforth I am silent.”

After praise to this effect, Śakra became fivefold, took the Lord from Īśāna and, with one carrying the umbrella, etc. as before, went instantly to the Master’s house. There he took away the sleeping-charm and the Arhat’s image, and placed the Lord of the World at the Queen’s side, according to custom. Then Śakra went from the Master’s palace and the other Indras from Meru, each to his own abode, as they had come.