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 76

21
here to Vitabhaya, then indeed I too would, in the presence of the Blessed one, become a man with a bald head, leave the house and enter upon the houseless state.
Mahavira heard this silent call and responded positively by directing his journeying to Udāyana's city, from Campa. He came to the garden called Mrgavana and a large congregation of people gathered there to listen to the Blessed one. Udayana also hastened to the public garden to hear the Law from the lips of the Lord. He was determined to renounce the world and spoke to the Holy Monk who said he should do so without any more delay. Udayana rode back to his palace with an intention to put his son Abhijit on the throne, but on second thoughts changed his mind. He did not want his dear son to be overwhelmed by the worldly pleasures and be unmindful of heavenly obligations. Thus out of sheer love and
ection for Abhijit, he decided on his sister's son, Kesi. And it was Kesi that became the King of Vitabhaya. He arranged a sumptuous consecration ceremony for the former king who went to seek the blessings of Mahavira. He became a monk and spent his time in performing the fasts of one day and a half, of two days and a half, of three days and a half.... of a month and similar other penances. Being unused to such a harsh regime the former king fell ill and came back to his old city where King Kesi ruled. The advisers of the King misconstrued Udayana's return, they told the king that he must be meaning to reclaim his throne, after his stint as a monk which was too harsh for him. Initially the young king would not be persuaded to such an uncharitable view but gradually succumbed to their vile pressure. He agreed to mix poison in Udayana's food which was only sour milk. When it was first offered to Udayana, a deity snatched it away and warned the old monk of the foul conspiracy. It happened three or four times and he was saved. He then wandered away as a monk ought to. He observed long fasts of sixty meals, till this naked monk, this bald headed monk reached the final state to be utterly free from all sorrow. It was at a potter's place that Udayana reached this state. A deity showered a rain of dust on that place and carried away the kindly potter. 'Sinavaili,' the deity, directed that the place of the potter be called hereafter as Kumbhakaravekkha'. The whole town of Vitabhaya was buried