Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

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

This page describes Birth of Purushapundarika which is the fifth part of chapter III of the English translation of the Ananda-purushapundarika-bali-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Ananda, Purushapundarika and Bali in jainism refers to some of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Part 5: Birth of Puruṣapuṇḍarīka

Priyamitra’s soul fell from the fourth heaven and descended into the womb of the chief-queen Lakṣmīvatī. Delighted by the seven great dreams indicating the birth of an Upendra (Vāsudeva), Queen Lakṣmīvatī carried the embryo. At the right time she bore a son, twenty-nine bows tall, dark, named Puruṣapuṇḍarīka.

The two brothers increased in size along with their father’s wishes, always carrying banners with the garuḍa and palm tree[1] and wearing dark blue and yellow garments. Shaking the earth, as it were, they walked easily. The nurses were not able to lift them even when they were children. Gradually they attained youth purifying the eyes and they became skilled in the ocean of all the arts.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Inverted order—the garuḍa-banner was the Vāsudeva’s.

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