Treasury of Jain Tales

SR No.: 006762
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 1994
Total Pages: 468
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 182

19. DOMUHA (DVIMUKHA)
In the city of Kampilya there reigned a king Jaya by name and his queen was Guṇamālā. One of these days as the king was receiving an ambassador from another state, he asked him whether the ambassador had noticed anything that other kingdoms had and Kămpilya did not. The ambassador replied that it did not have a hall of paintings. King Jaya immediately sent for his architects and ordered the construction of a hall of paintings.
After the architect's plans were ready, and the workmen started digging up the foundation for the building, they found a crown studded with a variety of precious stones, glittering all over with the brilliance of fire. They duly informed the king who was tremendously pleased to hear of the find. He went to the site, looked at the crown, took it up amongst shouts of cheering. He rewarded all the men there and when in due course the hall of paintings was ready, the king inaugurated it on an auspicious day. Amidst the sound of festive drums the king put the crown on his head, it had some magical power and as soon as it was placed on the king's head, the king got two faces. Therefore, king Jaya hereafter came to be known as Dvimukha.
The queen who had seven sons was still unhappy because she did not have a daughter. She worshipped a certain Yakṣa called Madana with a great devotion and prayed to him for a daughter. Once she dreamt that she had given birth to a cluster of blossoms of the Pārijāta tree. This dream was interpreted by the royal priest to mean that a daughter will be born to her. She offered oblations to the Yaksa and the daughter was born. She gave her the name of Madana-mañjari. In course of time, the child grew to be a