Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This page describes Initiation of Lakshmana’s sons which is the fourth part of chapter X 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 4: Initiation of Lakṣmaṇa’s sons
Now there was a king of Vidyādharas, Kanakaratha by name, in the city Kāñcanapura, on Mt. Vaitāḍhya. He invited kings, Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and others with their sons to the svayaṃvara of his daughters, Mandākinī and Candramukhī. From the kings seated there Anaṅgalavaṇa was chosen by Mandākinī and Aṅkuśa by Candramukhī of their own accord. Lakṣmaṇa’s sons, all the two hundred and fifty, Śrīdhara and the others, got up at the same time to fight from anger. Hearing that they were arming themselves, Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa said: “Who will fight with them? Brothers must not be killed (by each other). As there was no quarrel of the fathers, elder and younger, just so may there not be any between their sons, us and them.”
Knowing this speech of theirs from spies, the sons of Lakṣmaṇa, astonished, blamed themselves about to start a wicked action. Suddenly they attained a desire for emancipation, obtained their fathers’ approval, and took the vow at the lotus-feet of Muni Mahābala. At that time Anaṅgalavaṇa and Aṅkuśa, whose marriages had taken place, went to Ayodhyā with Sīrin and Śārṅgin.