Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

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

This page describes Beginning of nudity which is the ninth part of chapter III of the English translation of the Mahavira-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Mahavira in jainism is the twenty-fourth Tirthankara (Jina) and one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

There are two hamlets named Cāvāla, Dakṣiṇa (South) and Uttara (North). Between them there are two rivers, Suvarṇavālukā and Rūpyavālukā. As he was going from Dakṣiṇacāvāla to Uttaracāvāla, the Lord’s fine half-garment caught on a thorn tree on the bank of Suvarṇavālukā. When he had gone a little distance, the Lord looked at the half garment with the thought, “May it not go to waste on the rough ground,” and then turned to go on. The Brāhman, who was following the Lord, got the half-garment at the end of the thirteenth month and went away, after he had paid homage to the Lord. Delighted, the Brāhman gave it to the same tailor who joined the halves of the divine garment as if it had no seam. The Brāhman and the tailor received a lac of dinars as its price and divided it equally, like brothers.

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