Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words

This page describes The birth-bath of Shreyamsa which is the seventh part of chapter I of the English translation of the Shreyamsanatha-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Shreyamsanatha in jainism is one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Part 7: The birth-bath of Śreyāṃsa

Then Śakra came to the Master’s birth-house and quickly circumambulated it with his aerial car, Pālaka. Purandara left Pālaka in the northeast, entered the birth-house, and bowed to the Arhat and the Arhat’s mother. He gave the queen a sleeping-charm, put an image of the Arhat at her side, and made himself into five persons. Taking up the Lord with one, an umbrella with another, chauris with two more, and the thunderbolt with another who went in front, he set out. In a moment Śakra reached the rock Atipāṇḍukambalā and seated himself on it, holding the Lord on his lap.

Then the nine Indras of the heavens, Acyuta, et cetera; the twenty lords of the Bhavanapatins, Camara, et cetera; the thirty-two lords of the Vyantaras, Kāla, et cetera; the two Indras of the Jyotiṣkas, the Sun and Moon—these sixty-three Indras came there for the Lord’s bath. At the Indras’ command the Ābhiyogikas created full pitchers, et cetera. Then all the Indras in turn, beginning with Acyuta, made the Master’s bath with pure water from the tīrthas. Then Śakra set the Lord of the World on Īśāna’s lap and created four crystal bulls in the four directions. Then Śakra bathed the Master with clear water which had gushed from their horns, united at the top, and was flowing down.

After he had destroyed the crystal bulls, had anointed, et cetera, the Lord, and had waved the light-vessel, Śakra began the following hymn of praise:

Stuti:

“May your birth-kalyāṇa, best of all kalyāṇas, grant happiness to me filled with auspicious devotion. Why do I bathe, anoint, worship, and praise you, Lord? There is no satiety on my part in the task of your worship. The bull (of dharma) has been terrified by the tigers of adherents of false congregations. With you as protector, let it wander at will[1] now in the field of Bharatakṣetra. Today, you yourself, having founded the temple of my heart, fortunately afford protection to a high degree, God of gods. Just as there is no ornament to me in the form of this crown, et cetera, Lord, so there are ornaments from the rays from your toe-nails falling on top of my head.[2] Just as there is no joy to me praised by bards, Lord of the Three Worlds, so there is joy to me praising your virtues. Just as I have no joy seated on the lion-throne in the assembly, so I have much joy seated on the ground in front of you. I do not desire independence resulting from self-government. May I be for a long time subject to another with you as lord, Lord.”

After this hymn of praise, Hari took the Lord, went into the presence of the Arhats mother, removed the Arhat’s image and the sleeping-charm, and put him down. Śakra went from the Master’s birth-house and the other Indras went from Mt. Meru to their respective abodes, like dismissed worshippers.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

With allusion to the sacred bulls that wander in India unmolested.

[2]:

Bowed at the Lord’s feet.

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