Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This page describes Sumatinatha’s moksha (emancipation) which is the twenty-fourth part of chapter III of the English translation of the Sumatinatha-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Sumatinatha in jainism is one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.
Part 24: Sumatinātha’s mokṣa (emancipation)
From the time of his omniscience, Lord Sumati wandered for a lac of pūrvas less twelve aṅgas and twenty years. Knowing that it was time for his mokṣa, the Lord went to Mt. Sammeta and together with a thousand munis observed a fast. At the end of a month the Lord of the World, his karma prolonging existence being destroyed, the four infinities having been acquired, practiced śaileśī-dhyāna. On the ninth day of the white half of Caitra, the moon being in conjunction with Punarvasu, the Master and the munis gained an imperishable abode.
The Lord spent ten lacs of pūrvas as prince; twenty-nine lacs of pūrvas and twelve aṅgas as king; a lac of pūrvas less twelve aṅgas in the vow. So Lord Sumati’s age was forty lacs of pūrvas. Sumati Svāmin’s nirvāṇa was nine lacs of crores of sāgaras after Abhinandana’s nirvāṇa.
The Indras performed the funeral rites and cremation of the Lord and the thousand munis properly. They made a nirvāṇa-festival in Nandīśvara and went home, each to his own world.