Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This page describes Rama’s household which is the eleventh part of chapter VIII of the English translation of the Jain Ramayana, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. This Jain Ramayana contains the biographies of Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Naminatha, Harishena-cakravartin and Jaya-cakravartin: all included in the list of 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.
Part 11: Rāma’s household
Rāma had four chief-queens: Maithilī, Prabhāvatī, Ratinibhā, and Śrīdāmā, the fourth. One time Sītā, after taking her purificatory bath, saw a dream at the end of the night: two śarabhas, that had fallen from a celestial car, entering her mouth. When she had told about this, Rāma said: “Two heroes will be your sons. That the two śara-bhas have fallen from the celestial car will not be for my joy.” “Everything will be favorable from the power of your righteousness, lord,” Queen Jānakī said. At that time she conceived. Sītā, dear as life, before, became especially moonlight[1] for the joy of Rāmacandra’s eyes, when she had conceived.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
With a play on candrikā and his name.